New Foundations Nonviolence Center

ALTERNATIVES TO VIOLENCE PROJECT (AVP) WORKSHOPS

In 1975, a group of prison inmates decided to confront the violence in their lives. They had
no idea that less than 20 years later their efforts would result in a program operational in
over 40 states and in North and South America, Europe, Australia and Africa.

AVP was born of an association between a small group of New York Quakers and inmates at
Greenhaven prison in Stormville, NY who were working with teenagers in the custody of New York
State Division for Youth. Realizing their fear tactics were not succeeding in diverting these teens from
violent behavior, and finding themselves fearful of the youths' level of violence, they requested help
from a local group of Quakers.

AVP now has programs in the workplace, schools, universities, churches, drug abuse centers,
gang-intervention groups, job-training and other community programs.

In Colorado, AVP is a vital program of New Foundations Nonviolence Center, which continues to
grow and has been vital in our communities and prison system. But, as the violence in our society,
particularly among our youth, continues to increase at an alarming rate and in a time of shrinking
resources for programs to counter that violence, we need more than ever to expand these programs.

AVP WORKSHOPS

New Foundation offers experiential three-day, one-day and 2 1/2 hour workshops.
Role-playing and other activities help participants recognize their own violence as
well as violence in their environment, learning how to deal with conflict peacefully.
Emphasis is placed on building community, trust, self-esteem and developing
listening skills. Participation is voluntary, no outside observers are allowed and
confidentiality is respected. All levels utilize experiential learning techniques.

THE BASIC WORKSHOP
focuses on primary conflict-resolution skills through exercises in:

Affirmation -- Building self-esteem.
Community Building -- Creating an environment of trust.
Communication -- Improving listening skills and methods of expression.
Cooperation -- Developing attitudes that avoid competitive conflicts.
Creative Conflict Resolution -- Exploring and practicing constructive problem-solving and
conflict-resolution techniques.
Role Playing -- Experimenting with new and creative ways to respond to conflict situations.

THE ADVANCED WORKSHOP
addresses a specific aspect (or aspects) of conflict/conflict-resolution, such as:

Fear -- Exploring the hidden emotions that usually underlie anger jealousy, and prejudice.
Anger -- Acquiring a deeper understanding of the situations that trigger anger.
Communication -- Developing the skills necessary to communicate intense and stressful situations.
Stereotyping -- Building awareness of stereotyping, bias, and prejudice in personal relationships.
Power and Powerlessness -- Helping individuals understand power structures and get in touch with their own inner power.
Forgiveness -- Building the groundwork for true reconciliation and true freedom from guilt.

THE TRAINING FOR TRAINERS WORKSHOP
focuses on team building and leadership skills, in a curriculum that includes:

Group Process Skills -- Introduces leadership styles, planning for experiential learning, and processing of exercises.
Team Leadership Methods -- Focuses on team building and cooperative leadership.
Hands on Experience -- Offers practice in planning, presenting, and evaluating an actual workshop session.

AVP WORKSHOP SCHEDULE

"This is the first time I have really seen how I can do things differently and still be able to
respect myself as a man."

- AVP Inmate Participant

"It is difficult to reduce to writing, the experience I had over three days with this group of
people. The word which seems most descriptive to me is, powerful. Without wanting to
sound hyperbolic I would say the process I observed borders on miraculous. There is more
to this human business than we allow ourselves to believe when we get trapped in superficial
and simplistic solutions."

- Steve Lindly, Administrator,
Wyoming Department of Corrections
(from a three-day AVP workshop in a South Dakota State Penitentiary)

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