April 13, 2009 – The Lutheran Church in Tutu is offering the Alternative to Violence Program (AVP) is April 17-19 beginning 6-9 p.m., on Friday. It will continue from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., on Saturday, and from 1-5 p.m., on Sunday. Training cost is $45 ($55 at the door). For information and to register, call 998-1669.
Group size is limited, and meals are provided. E-mail mangomomma@yahoo.com
AVP History
The AVP program began in 1975 when a group of inmates at Green Haven Prison (NY) was working with youth coming into conflict with the law. They collaborated with the Quaker Project on Community Conflict, devising a prison workshop. The success of this workshop quickly generated requests for more, and AVP was born. The program quickly spread to many other prisons.
As the program spread, it became obvious that violence and the need for this training exists just a much outside prison walls as within, and that everyone in all walks of life and circumstances is exposed to and participates in some way in violence – be it physical or "intangible".
Workshops are now offered extensively in communities and schools. Workshops have been held for businesses, churches, community associations, street gangs, halfway houses, women's shelters, and many others. The program has been growing at the rate of 25 to 30 percent each year since. There are currently almost 2000 volunteer AVP facilitators in the USA. In 2007, 840 workshops were conducted in the U.S. (in 32 states), and many other nations.
For more information, call Cheryl Miller at 998-1669.
