Alternatives to Gun Violence Program

08/12/2023

Thought folks might appteciate this... Receiving and giving needed attention can prevent violence... and expand love and connection.

07/09/2022

Today is our first program session for Summer 2022! Please note that future sessions may be at a different location, so please contact us before making plans.
We have childcare available today!

TODAY we'll meet 12-3 pm at 1101 S. 27th St. in Grays Ferry. Everyone over age 18 is welcome. Lunch provided, $30 gift card for staying the whole time. Masks required. (We'll have masks if you need one.)

So come on out and join us today if you can, or for future sessions. If you need childcare to attend a future session, please contact us ASAP so we can plan.

We look forward to addressing and healing from gun violence with you, together.

07/03/2022

Folks sometimes scoff at a question we discuss in our program: "What is violence?"
("You're asking me what violence is??? I know what violence is!")

But violence is more than interpersonal--more than just punching, kicking, or shooting.

Violence is systemic. Racism is violence. Classism is violence. Imprisonment, including the school-to-prison pipeline, is violence.

Violence is built into our system, and we can see it clear as day: violence is denying people what they need to survive and thrive, or making access very difficult, especially for certain people based on aspects of their identity or experience.

When we cannot access what we need to survive, and when we have no support to obtain what we need, we are often forced to make difficult decisions that can end up hurting others and ourselves. Decisions that can land us in the court system and in prison, or worse.

A violent system creates violence in society, and thrives on it. (Look into the prison industrial complex--who benefits?)

We are committed to seeing and stating how the pieces connect. We are committing to building peace and wellbeing in ourselves, in our systems, and in society. When people have what they need, crime and imprisonment decrease. Wellness and peace increase.

Think about it.

It's all one.

https://twitter.com/phil_lewis_/status/1425609041221390339?s=21

“The Marshall Project asked incarcerated people what might have kept them out of prison.

Their responses: Affordable housing, vocational programs, cheaper college classes, grief counseling, drug prevention programs, daycare vouchers and more.”

https://www.themarshallproject.org/2020/10/27/what-could-have-kept-me-out-of-prison

06/25/2022

Happening this weekend! Please share.

is partnering with the Father's Day Rally Committee to host another on Saturday, June 25 at the Greater Exodus Baptist Church, 704 North Broad Street in North Philadelphia.
The event will be held from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

06/22/2022

The Alternatives to Violence Project way of life understands that every moment and every person is capable of transformation. And that this can prevent violence and bring peace.

Carly saw this image on another page this morning and we feel it summarizes the exciting, relieving, powerful potential of life and of our program.

Many of us have had painful, difficult, challenging childhoods and lives. In the Alternatives to Gun Violence Program, we create an environment and share tools to process and heal from our experiences with deep support, tenderness, and care. We gather together to share, to listen, to witness, to mourn sorrows, and to celebrate joys. Together, we can identify our past and current emotions and find new perspectives to support healthier, more peaceful futures. Together, we can lift up the tender, deep wisdom and full, healthy power that grows when we turn our hearts to healing our trauma. Join us.

Program scheduled to start July 9, please stay tuned.

We see you. We hear you. And we love you.

[Image description: A wooden board pathway through the forest with the sun shining through the leaf canopy. Over this hazy image are the words "Sometimes people with the worst pasts end up creating the worst futures."]

06/19/2022

We are so fortunate that our leadership team for the Alternatives to Gun Violence Program includes two brilliant, caring, wise, compassionate, dedicated, powerful men, Mr. Rodney Ray, and Mr. Andre Craig.

Mr. Rodney and Mr. Andre show up every moment they can to give support, love, and care to our program, to the young people in their lives, and to others every day.

Join us in wishing them both a very Happy Father's Day! We love you, we appreciate you! You inspire and uplift us, and we are so grateful.

🖤🤎💛❤️

06/18/2022

Violence takes many forms, and has many intersections, and consequences.
The Alternatives to Violence Projects lifts up how intertwined economic violence and other forms of violence are, as this thread points to. Amd how white supremacy, racism, racist and classist policing structures/practices, and exploitive capitalism hold the pieces in place.
Come be part of the solution.
Our 2022 summer programming starts next month.

06/05/2022

The facilitation team for AGVP met tonight as we do regularly for team-building and program planning. Like so many across Philadelphia and across the US, we are aching over the mass shooting early this morning on South St. in Philadelphia, the ongoing gun violence throughout our city, and the series of mass shootings across the country in recent weeks.

When will it stop? Where are the politicians and legislators? How are there billboards for gun shows posted along the exit to Grays Ferry off of 76 every few months, with everything our neighborhood endures with gun violence, day after day? Don't people understand how traumatizing it is to see this? Does anyone in "positions of power" actually understand, or care?

We are planning to re-start our programming in early July, to provide a space, support, and resources around these questions, feelings, frustrations, and more. And to work together to be part of the solution.

We each have a story to tell. We look forward to being with you, to hearing YOUR story, to listening, to sharing, to supporting one another, and to healing and building peace, side by side.

06/01/2022

Hello friends!

If you've attended any of our programs, you've experienced a bit of AVP. O, Andre, Sydney, Terence, and Carly are all Alternatives to Violence Project facilitators who started off as participants in Basic Level AVP workshops and grew from there.

This month, there's an opportunity for YOU to experience an entire Basic Level AVP workshop, too!

Check out the details for this upcoming opportunity.

You must commit to attending the whole time, which is a total of 21 hours. It's 9:00 am-4:00 pm, 3 days in a row: Monday, June 13; Tuesday, June 14; Wednesday, June 15. Believe me, it's worth it, and you might wish it went longer!

Although programs are called "workshops", they are super interesting, fun, active, and interactive. Your level of involvement is up to you, and you will be affirmed and held lovingly throughout.

Contact Andre Craig to register and for more information about this workshop.

Learn more about AVP at avpusa.org

[Image description: Flyer shows a group of humans in a circle, wearing different colored shirts, each stretching one hand into the middle of the circle and smiling.
Flyer text reads:
AVP
ALTERNATIVES TO VIOLENCE PROJECT BASIC WORKSHOP
Mon June 13, Tue June 14, Wed June 15
Workshop hours: 9 AM to 4 PM
Delaware Valley Alternatives to Violence Project is coming back to New Jerusalem! We look forward to meeting you!
Pinkett Tabernacle Friendly Community Church
1915 N. 21st St, Philadelphia]

05/01/2022

This is Carly--
When we look at gun violence, there are many pieces of the picture to look at.
How and where fi****ms are acquired is an important piece to consider.
The responses of the shop owners in this articles are really concerning.

A report by the Brady gun-control group traced thousands of guns from criminal investigations to a handful of gun shops in the Philadelphia area.

04/22/2022

THIS weekend! Trees can be part of reducing and preventing violence including gun violence. Various studies have proven this.
Come volunteer and help plant trees and plant PEACE.

Help us plant trees next weekend!

Friday, April 22 at stingers Square 1230 to 5 PM including late afternoon refreshments.

Sunday, April 24 at Lanier Park 9:30 AM to noon.

Http://graysferrytt.phs.volunteerhub.com

Young Chances PHS : Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Tree Philly Councilman Kenyatta Johnson Clean Water Action - Pennsylvania Ciocca Subaru of Philadelphia Brian Clinton Philly Thrive Point Breeze Tree Tenders Southwest Center City Tree Tenders & Arborists WHYY News NBC10 Philadelphia CBS Philly 6abc Action News
please tag others!