What is the AVP Program?

It is an experiential program, helping people change their lives...

It is a community program, offering anew approach for community groups, businesses, social service agencies, youth organizations and all who would like to participate...

It is a prison program, helping inmates learn new skills and attitudes that lead to fulfilling and crime-free lives...

It is a program for everybody. Though founded by Quakers based on their belief in an inborn power for peace in everyone, it draws its participants and its trainers from all religious, races and walks of life...

It is an intensive learning experience, offering three-day workshops on three levels:

1. The Basic Workshop
2. The Advanced Workshop
3. The Training for Trainers Workshop

The AVP Basic Workshop

The Basic AVP Workshop is an intensive, three-day learning experience which teaches interpersonal conflict resolution skills through a series of step-by-step processes. These experiences in small groups and one-to-one interactions build a sense of community and trust through exercises focusing on:

• Affirmation -- Building self esteem and trust.
• Communication -- Improving both listening skills and assertive methods of expression.
• Cooperation -- Developing cooperative attitudes that avoid competitive conflicts.
• Creative Conflict Resolution -- Getting in touch with the inner Transforming Power to resolve violence. Role plays provide an opportunity to explore this power and learn new and creative ways to respond to real life conflicts in our lives.

AVP workshops seek to assist individuals in personal growth and change. AVP is not psychotherapy. Each workshop is limited to 20 participants.

The AVP Advanced Workshop

The Advanced AVP workshop focuses on the underlying causes of violence, both in ourselves and in the world we live in. It is designed to give participants opportunities to rebuild community, review in depth the concept of Transforming Power and proceed to set individual and group goals for the focus of the remainder of the workshop.

Such a focus topic might be:

• Fear -- Reveals the hidden fears that usually underlie anger, jealousy and prejudice.
• Anger -- Results in a deeper understanding of the personal situations that trigger anger.
• Power -- (And powerlessness) Helps individuals understand power structures and get in touch with their inner power.
• Communication -- Develops the skills and the ability to communicate in tense and stressful situations.
• Forgiveness -- Builds the groundwork for true reconciliation and freedom from guilt.
• Stereotyping -- Builds awareness of stereotyping, bias and prejudice in personal relations.
• Man-woman relationships -- Explores issues of fear, anger, power and powerlessness.
• AIDS -- Understanding and acceptance for people who are HIV+
• And others -- Whatever the group finds most compelling.
  
  (Prerequisite: Completion of Basic Workshop)
  

The AVP Training for Trainers Workshop

TO BECOME AN AVP TRAINER...

Begin by completing the Basic AVP Workshop. If you find that this is an experience you would like to share and you would like to become an AVP facilitator, take the Training for Trainers Workshop. This workshop is reserved for those who expect to be active volunteer facilitators in community &/or prison workshops.

This workshop focuses on developing team building, leadership methods, and group process skills. Participants will work in small groups, actually functioning as facilitator. You will receive guidance and practice in facilitating all parts of a Basic Workshop:

• Team Building & Team Contract
• Choosing a Team Leader
• Agendas
• Exercises
• Transforming Power Talk
• Light & Livelies
• Role Plays
  

As the last step in the training, you will apprentice with workshop leadership teams in other Mini, Basic or Advanced AVP Workshops.

Correctional officers are invited to become trainers and lead community workshops. However, it is AVP policy not to use correctional officers as leaders of prison workshops.

Prerequisite: Completion of Basic Workshop.  Most groups require completion of the Advanced Workshop prior to the end of apprenticeship.