FAITH OF OUR FATHERS PEACE CAMPAIGN

THE HOUSE OF UMOJA on January 1, 2006 launched the FAITH OF OUR FATHERS PEACE CAMPAIGN to institute a serious strategic effort to create peace amongst youth in the city of Philadelphia; thereby support ending the escalating violence against youth. The strategy for the FAITH OF OUR FATHERS PEACE CAMPAIGN is based on the strategies Umoja used during its peace campaign “No Gang War ’74,” which virtually eliminated street gang turf wars here in Philadelphia almost three decades ago. As a result, our strategies have been practiced and proven successful nationally through the National Center for Neighborhood Enterprise.

The key element and central focus of the campaign is the IMANI PEACE PLEDGEä which is a contractual agreement youth sign pledging not to engage in acts of violence in and outside of school, acknowledging that their forefathers brought peace to the city of Philadelphia as youth, and they as youth today can do the same.  The pledge ends with the commitment statement, “Let My Word Be My Bond.” Umoja is also perpetuating the theme “I COME IN PEACE” along with the Imani Pledgeä.

House of UMOJA realizes it must be creative and youth focused to proliferate the pledge, compel youth to sign it, and then add value to the commitment they make. Umoja has rallied thousands of citizens, youth, organizations, artists, and businesses in the city of Philadelphia to provide a montage of programs and opportunities to engage urban youth ages 11 to 25 and their extended families and communities.  Umoja works toward sustained impact while creating a model to empower youth to create peace across the nation.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
In the late 60s and 70s, 90% of the youth the House of Umoja engaged were gang members. Since that time, Umoja’s service has also been provided to youth who do not have intact families, have emotional problems, and other debilitating issues. Umoja’s services are divided into residential and outreach programs. The service in which we need support is specifically geared to the outreach program, PEACE IN THE HOOD.

For the past three years, the House of Umoja has been contracted with the School District of Philadelphia’s Office of School Climate and Safety as part of the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act Grant Program. On 12 October 2005, in developing a working model to help diffuse violence in schools and in response to the spiraling rate of deaths by homicide of youths in the City of Philadelphia, the House of Umoja through the PEACE IN THE HOOD Program developed the FAITH OF OUR FATHERS PEACE CAMPAIGN, which is a comprehensive effort to persuade today’s students to make a commitment to non-violence. The strategy for the Faith of Our Fathers Peace Campaign is based on the strategies Umoja used during its peace campaign “No Gang War ’74,” which ended rampant deadly gang violence that plagued the City of Philadelphia almost three decades ago.

One key tool in the “No Gang War In’74” campaign was the IMANI PACT, which was a contractual agreement between each gang member and the community that they would not fight and because they kept their word the gang warfare virtually ended. In 2006, as part of the Faith of Our Fathers Peace Campaign, the IMANI PEACE PLEDGETM has been established to engage youth to commit to non-violence and to encourage others to do the same. The reasoning is based on the proven fact that their fathers as youth were able to bring peace to the city of Philadelphia and the youth of today can do the same.

Through the Faith of Our Fathers Peace Campaign, Umoja has succeeded in establishing “Partnerships for Peace” with news media entities, members of the business community and community organizations in the City of Philadelphia. The campaign is manifested through a series of strategic activities, events, and communications guided by a community steering committee and youth peace council.  On January 1, 2006, IMANI, the last day of Kwanzaa, the House of Umoja hosted the 2006 STAY ALIVE YOUTH ANTI-VIOLENCE CONFERENCE. The first quarter, Umoja went in the schools in its area to directly engage students beginning with the 9th graders in a strategy to change the violent culture by engaging the leaders-to-be.  Sunday, April 9, 2006 began the city-wide proliferation of the campaign. Philadelphia newspapers published the IMANI PEACE PLEDGETM the week of spring vacation, April 10 – 14, 2006. The Philadelphia Tribune, Philadelphia Daily News, and Philadelphia Weekly each published an article and the full text of the pledge. This partnership between the Philadelphia print media and the House of Umoja has resulted in, to date, over 800 children who live and attend schools in the Greater Philadelphia area signing the Imani Pledge which they read in the newspapers.

The City of Philadelphia’s Mayor – The Honorable John F. Street -- declared the week of May 15 –20, 2006 as “Faith Of Our Fathers” Week in Philadelphia. During that week the electronic sign atop the Philadelphia Electric Company, the PECO Building, carried a special message: “Sign The Imani Pledge.” On May 20 2006, Men Making A Difference, kicked-off its “Day Of Community Service” program at the House of Umoja – an event which was aired live for several hours by Radio Station WURD AM 900. The day also provided live entertainment and refreshments for the neighborhood, members of community organizations and invited guests along with face painting and a moon bounce for the children – courtesy of The House of Umoja.

A Student Non-Violence Poster Competition in which students from Philadelphia’s middle and high schools participated was sponsored during this time. With the themes of Non-Violence … Peace In The Hood; Family Harmony; and The Greatness Of Our African-American Heritage, three works of arts were selected for cash prizes and another four received honorable mentions. All submitted artwork comprises a traveling exhibition which will next appear on September 10, 2006 at Penn Cinema for the premier of a student-written play, “I COME IN PEACE” and then at administration building of the School District of Philadelphia.

Umoja is a partner with the Philadelphia Partnership for Peace.  The partnership consists of the House of Umoja along with the Free Library of Philadelphia, the Atwater-Kent Museum, Keepers of the Culture Storytellers and WXPN Radio Station.  The goals of the partnership include getting 100,000 youth to sign the IMANI PEACE PLEDGETM by October 2008, development of the DVD, In Time, centered around Umoja’s story that teaches global methods of conflict resolution, provide resources for violence prevention, mediation centers, and engage younger youth through radio dramas about the benefits of peaceful living.

The House of Umoja has declared June 10 through June 16, 2007 as PEACE WEEK.  On June 12, 2007, National Children’s Day, a mural of Queen Mother Falaka Fattah located two blocks from the House of Umoja will be dedicated during a special ceremony.  Other activities include a “My Money & Me” Day where you will receive financial management information from the Bank of America and Real Estate investing from a local small business.

July 15, 2007 – Quiet Rage and Friends present The Ultimate Underground Festival at University of Pennsylvania’s Rotunda where partial proceeds will benefit the House of Umoja.

September 14 – 16, 2007 is Umoja’s 39th Anniversary.  Umoja will begin its celebration on Friday, September 14th with a Youth Economic Summit, then a block party featuring Umoja’s Philly Starts B-Ball and Talent Competition.

Our children are telling us that they want peace and we are listening as we work feverishly to create, implement and evaluate initiatives that will create an environment that is conducive to positively shaping their minds and souls.