NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J., Jan. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- New Jersey After 3 (NJA3), a statewide non-profit organization dedicated to expanding afterschool opportunities for New Jersey's youth, will respond to the call for service issued jointly by President Barack Obama and General Colin Powell by showing tribute to the peaceful community actions demonstrated by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through a "Speak Out for Peace" initiative. "Speak Out for Peace" is a statewide service learning project organized by NJA3 that engages students in its afterschool programs in meaningful examinations and positive actions towards peace and hope in their schools, communities, and the world at large. "Speak Out for Peace" projects will kick off during the week of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday and take place throughout January and February in dozens of afterschool programs statewide.

NJA3 has created an integrated project that will engage youth in thinking about creating change in their local communities from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) Day of Service to Global Youth Service Day (April 24-26, 2009). NJA3 disseminated over 200 service learning kits to their extensive statewide network of over 100 afterschool programs.

Afterschool sites throughout the state will have the opportunity to look at themes of hope and peace during the celebration of MLK Day of Service using "Speak Out for Peace: MLK Edition" kits. The "Speak Out for Peace: MLK Edition" kits contain information about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., his ideas around non-violence, and a six week curriculum that leads students to plan and participate in projects that promote their voice and vision for how their communities can contribute to and create a peaceful society.

Most significant to the initiative is the opportunity for youth to make use of a public platform for the purposes of promoting hope, peace and literacy. Youth participants will be encouraged to explore public speaking, creative writing, photo journalism, music creation, dramatic arts, etc. as means of spreading the message, and engaging the public while educating, informing and disseminating information.

"There's no better feeling than hearing the proud voices of neighborhood kids standing up for a better tomorrow, by taking action in their communities today. That is what 'Speak Out for Peace' is all about. Following the example of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and other great community leaders including President Barack Obama, and General Colin Powell, the students in NJ After 3 afterschool programs will now have their own platform on which to be heard -- and they will do it in their own artistic way that we hope will inspire peace & hope within their communities," stated Mark Valli, President & CEO of NJ After 3.

NJA3 will utilize its existing service-learning staff, partnering AmeriCorps members, as well as youth development workers as Service Learning Ambassadors, engaging between 3,000 to 4,000 NJA3 youth in service-learning projects under the themes of hope, peace and literacy. Additionally, 2,000 to 3,000 community and family members will join students during their culminating events.

For more information on specific NJ After 3 Afterschool sites participating with Speak Out for Peace events, please contact: Cari Tarica, Director of Program Content & Special Initiatives, New Jersey After 3 @ ctarica@njafter3.org or 732-246-7948.

About New Jersey After 3, Inc.

New Jersey After 3 (NJA3) is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding and improving afterschool opportunities for New Jersey's kids -- giving them the opportunity to participate in high-quality, comprehensive, structured, supervised and enriching afterschool activities. Currently NJA3 supports a network of programs serving over 14,000 children in over 100 schools in urban, suburban, and rural communities. For more information on how to support the continued growth of New Jersey After 3 - please visit: www.njafter3.org