How AVP Began

AVP from the Start

In 1975, a group of Black men incarcerated at Green Haven Prison formed the "Think Tank Concept" (AKA, The Think Tank). Green Haven is a maximum-security prison in New York State. Roger "Namu" Whitfield led the Think Tank. The goal of the Think Tank was to redirect teens away from prison (Apsey, 1978). Looking for effective approaches, the Think Tank reached out to volunteers in the prison, who drew on the work of several groups:

Quaker Project on Community Conflict (QPCC)*
Civil Rights Movement leaders
Children's Creative Response to Conflict (CCRC)
Movement for a New Society (MNS)
The Alternatives to Violence Project workshops emerged from a collaboration among incarcerated Black men, Quakers, civil rights activists, and innovative educators.

In this Jan. 16, 1968, file photo, Martin Luther King (left), accompanied by Rev. Bernard Lafayette, talks about a planned march on Washington, D.C., during a news conference in Atlanta
In this Jan. 16, 1968, file photo, Martin Luther King (left), accompanied by Rev. Bernard Lafayette, talks about a planned march on Washington, D.C., during a news conference in Atlanta

Roots in the civil rights movement - Dr. Bernard Lafayette, who worked closely with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to develop nonviolence training, helped to develop early workshops models.

The original workshop was so successful that requests were soon received for more. It became evident that the program designed for prison inmates could be useful to everyone. Community people began to seek the AVP training, and workshops are now offered in schools and in communities. AVP currently has facilitators in well over 40 states and over 50 other countries. The numbers keep growing.

Goals

The Alternatives to Violence Project is grassroots, independent, international, volunteer movement committed to reducing interpersonal violence in our society. AVP works toward this goal by presenting experiential workshops in prisons, schools, and communities. AVP workshops describe conflict-management skills that can enable individuals to build successful interpersonal interactions, gain insights into themselves, and find new and positive approaches to their lives.

Philosophy

The fundamental belief in AVP is that there is a power for peace in everyone, available to those who are open to it. This power has the ability to transform violence and is called "Transforming Power." AVP builds on a spiritual base of caring for self and others.

Program

AVP is an experiential program, offering the opportunity for people to change. It has a spiritual base but does not promote any religious doctrine. 

AVP is a prison program, helping incarcerated people learn new skills and attitudes that can lead to fulfilling, crime-free lives.

AVP is a community program, offering a new approach for a variety of community groups, social service agencies, youth organizations, and many others.

AVP is a program for everybody regardless of race, religion, political view, or national origin. Founded on the Quaker belief in an inborn power for peace in everyone, it draws its participants and facilitators from all. religions, races and walks of life.

Organization

In its origins and philosophy, AVP has ties to the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), but from this beginning, AVP has developed into a non-sectarian, non- political organization.

The Alternatives to Violence Project / USA, Inc. is a private non-profit educational corporation, 501(c)(3).

AVP National Organization

At an International Gathering of AVP groups in September of 1990, a national AVP organization was formed. In September of 1992, the first National Interim Board of Directors was appointed. After the development of bylaws and articles of incorporation, a formal Board of Directors was appointed by the AVP/USA annual meeting in September of 1993. That Board of Directors went on to formally adopt a policy statement in January of 1994. Later that structure was changed to reflect AVP/ USA's commitment to local councils as the core of AVP/USA when a Committee of Committees replaced the Board of Directors with each standing committee represented on the body.

Bernard Lafayette, Jr Nonviolent Social Change: Reflections 50 Years Later February 28, 2018 

MLK50 Day of Remembrance

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