Nonviolence workshops in prisons, schools, workplaces, and other community settings

What is the Alternatives to Violence Project?

AVP began in 1975 when inmates at a New York prison asked civil rights leaders, educators, and Quaker volunteers to help them build a program to change the culture of violence in prisons and surrounding communities, to redirect young people away from coming to prison.

The program then spread organically and grew into a grassroots global network, now active in most U.S. states and over 50 countries around the world. Led by trained volunteer facilitators, it is offered in prisons, schools, workplaces, neighborhood centers, social service agencies, faith communities, refugee camps, and conflict zones.

AVP workshops are interactive, hands-on experiences with a group of 10-20 participants who engage in practical exercises, role plays, games, facilitated discussions, and sharing circles designed to break down stereotypes, foster a sense of belonging, and help us discover the power within ourselves to shift potentially harmful situations toward healthy, nonviolent outcomes. Learn more here.

Volunteer Opportunities in the Central Valley

We are currently offering AVP workshops freely in Fresno, Madera, Kings, Tulare, and Kern counties. We also have an active AVP program at SATF (Substance Abuse Treatment Facility) prison in Corcoran, and we hope to re-open our program at Chowchilla Women's Facility prison, which was thriving for many years but got shut down during COVID. Other institutions---schools, nonprofits, re-entry programs, and prisons like Kern Valley and Avenal state prisons---have requested AVP workshops, but we need to build a larger community of volunteers who can help us fulfill these requests. Whether you're interested in becoming a facilitator to help in prisons, with youth, or in other community settings... or if you'd like to assist with workshop logistics (food, hospitality, etc)... or if you want to offer support with publicity and social media... there are many ways to join us and contribute! No former experience is necessary, and people from all backgrounds and walks of life are welcome.

The first step to beginning a volunteer is to attend our Basic/Intro workshop as a participant, to experience it for yourself! After this, those interested can choose to take the Advanced workshop and Training for Facilitators workshop. Then you can begin as an apprentice facilitator, helping lead workshops as part of a team of fellow volunteers, or you can explore other ways to stay involved and help us bring this transformational experience to more people in the community.