In mid-May, Facility C at Correctional Training Facility (CTF) hosted a three-day Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP) event for the incarcerated population.
The project is an experiential multicultural volunteer program dedicated to reducing interpersonal violence in society. This non-profit educational corporation is funded entirely by private sources.
Although the original mission was prison programs, such as at CTF, the Alternatives to Violence Project has extended outreach to:
- homeless shelters
- foster care agencies
- Correctional Officers
- developmentally disabled adults
- and gang-prevention programs.
The workshops empower people to lead nonviolent lives through affirmation, respect for all, community building, cooperation and trust.
Throughout the three-day workshop, participants were taught the three levels of training.
Basic Workshop:
- Establishing a base of self-esteem, affirmation, trust and cooperation.
- Exploring methods of communication.
- Learning about creative ways of resolving conflicts.
Advanced Workshop:
- The underlying causes of conflict such as fear, anger, stereotyping, power and powerlessness, and “old history” and behavior.
- Taking a deeper look at ways of resolving conflicts, including communication and forgiveness.
- Experiencing consensus as a decision making process.
How to become a facilitator to run the workshops:
- Group process skills
- Working as a cooperative team
- Hands-on Experience
- Specific AVP Methods such as Agenda Building, Exercises, Transforming Power, Light and Livelies, Role Plays.
By Lt. Wil Landrum, AA/PIO
Correctional Training Facility
