The Alternatives to Violence Project began in 1975. An inmate group at Green Haven Prison in Dutchess County, New York, was engaged in work with youth gangs and teenagers at risk. They sought assistance from the Quaker Project on Community Conflict, and from that original partnership of inmates and Quakers, AVP was born.

The original workshop was so successful that requests were soon received for more. The first AVP organization was born and grew quickly. AVP currently conducts workshops in forty-four of the US states and has contact people in nearly every state in this nation. AVP also offers programs in twenty-four countries outside the USA.

In 1988, AVP was introduced in Massachusetts by Zell Draz with the help of the legendary Steve Angell. A state organization was formed as a local group under the AVP New England regional group.Until recently it received administrative support fromthe American Friends Service Committee (AFSC/NE) office in Cambridge.Workshops have been held in a dozen state correctional facilities and one federal facility. Seven of these programs are currently active. When Zell Draz died, she left money in her estate for AVP. Her sons have continued to contribute money in her memory and are a principal source of financial support for both AVP USA and AVP MA.

The AVP MA officers are:

• Kathy Rubenstein   AVP-MA Co-Chair  (2014).
  Joan Russell          AVP-MA Co-Chair  (2014).
  Kathy and Joan are responsible for overseeing the smooth operation of the AVP-MA program and for convening periodic business meetings of the organization. They are also responsible for the setting up of AVP in new areas and with fundraising efforts. Kathy and Joan are the points of contact with the Department of Correction with the assistance of other officers and facilitators as appropriate.
• Bess Haire  AVP-MA Recording Secretary (2014).
  Bess is responsible for the records of the organization. She publishes the agenda of AVP MA meetings, records the minutes of such meetings, and distributes them.
• Robey Benson       AVP-MA Treasurer (2013).
  Roberta is responsible for maintaining the AVP MA budget, handling reimbursement requests,approving AVP Massachusetts expenditures, and assisting in fundraising efforts and financial support for AVP MA attendees at the AVP USA annual gathering.