HandCrafting Justice (HCJ) was created in New York City in October 1997 by The Sisters of the Good Shepherd, an international congregation located on six continents and in 73 countries, with a 170-year history of service to the most marginalized and oppressed within society. Their goal is to identify and build upon the program participants’ strengths and resources through a variety of spiritual activities, education, income-producing training and residential programs. This history of service has enabled the Good Shepherd Sisters to earn NGO status at the United Nations.

For the past three years, HCJ has relied upon a partnership with Good Shepherd Volunteers (GSV) www.gsvolunteers.org, a program exemplifying the connection between faith and feminism through a year of service. Good Shepherd Volunteers (GSV) collaborates with the Sisters of the Good Shepherd to provide full-time volunteers with the opportunity to work in social service ministries. During their time of service, volunteers focus on the four tenets of Social Justice, Community, Simplicity and Spirituality.