Feel Good Friday - Equal Justice Initiative

Monday is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a time to honor Dr. King's legacy of fighting for racial and economic justice through service and action. That makes this a perfect Friday to spotlight the Equal Justice Initiative.

Founded in 1989 and headquartered in Montgomery, Alabama, the mission of the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) is "ending mass incarceration and excessive punishment in the United States, challenging racial and economic injustice, and protecting basic human rights for the most vulnerable people in American society."

EJI operates as a nonprofit law firm providing legal representation to people who have been illegally convicted, unfairly sentenced, or abused in state jails and prisons. Under founder and Executive Director Bryan Stevenson's leadership, EJI has secured relief, release, or reduced sentences for over 140 people on death row. Their work has resulted in landmark U.S. Supreme Court rulings, including a 2012 decision that banned mandatory life-imprisonment-without-parole sentences for all children 17 or younger, a ruling that impacted thousands of cases nationwide.

Beyond the courtroom, EJI challenges the narrative about race in America through groundbreaking research and public education. In April 2018, they opened the Legacy Museum and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery—powerful spaces that trace the arc from slavery through lynching and segregation to mass incarceration. These Legacy Sites have attracted over 650,000 visitors from around the world. EJI also produces an award-winning wall calendar, A History of Racial Injustice, that features a different historical event each day.

Their anti-poverty work includes a Hunger Relief program that has served thousands of families struggling with food insecurity and a health clinic that provides free care to vulnerable people.

If you'd like to support the Equal Justice Initiative, there are many ways to do so. You can visit the Legacy Sites the next time you’re in Montgomery, Alabama, make a donation, and amplify their message on social media. Follow EJI on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or YouTube and share their stories of justice and redemption with your network.

Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day! 

Feel Good Friday - The King Center

Today is not only Feel Good Friday, it’s also the birthday of American civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. We’ll celebrate his legacy with a holiday on Monday, giving you plenty of time to learn about the work being done by The King Center. 

Established in 1968 by Mrs. Coretta Scott King and based in Atlanta, Georgia, The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change (“The King Center”) is the official living memorial to Martin Luther King Jr. and a programmatic nonprofit with a mission to “prepare global citizens to create a more just, humane and peaceful world using Dr. King’s nonviolent philosophy and methodology (Nonviolence365®).”

 

The website is full of resources explaining the 6 principles of nonviolence, 6 steps on nonviolence and the Beloved Community, “a global vision, in which all people can share in the wealth of the earth… (and) racism and all forms of discrimination, bigotry and prejudice will be replaced by an all-inclusive spirit of sisterhood and brotherhood.

 

Some of the programs of The King Center include: 

• Nonviolence365® education and training, which teaches individuals about Dr. King’s methods of nonviolent social change as a means and strategy to accelerate progress in social justice initiatives.
• Camp Now Leadership Academy, an intensive program using technology, financial literacy and public speaking to help 13-19-year-old students become complete global citizens who will inspire nonviolent change across the world.
• The Beloved Community Talks (BCT), which are “bringing people out of their comfort zone to promote understanding and to influence equitable change to the national infrastructure”.
• Students with King, an opportunity for elementary through high school students to learn about the Civil Rights Movement from Mrs. King and family and friends of Dr. King.

 

In addition, The King Center leads the nationwide observance of the MLK holiday. The theme and call to action, for this year is “The Urgency of Creating the Beloved Community!” and you can find a schedule of events here: MLK 2021

 

If you need a shirt to wear on Monday, or some books about Dr. King, you can shop for them at the online store. To support the work of The King Center, make a donation and amplify their work by liking their Facebook page and following them on Twitter @TheKingCenter.