About AVP-MA | Testimonials | Schedule | Volunteering | Meetings | Links

About AVP-MA

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 1992, 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 from the 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:

• Nancy Shippen and Tim Wilson, Co-Chairs . Tim and Nancy are responsible for overseeing the smooth operation of the AVP-MA program and for convening periodic business meetings of the organization.  They also are responsible for assisting with website maintenance and the setting up of AVP in new areas and with fundraising efforts. Nancy is the primary coordinator and point of contact with the Department of Correction with the assistance of other officers and facilitators as appropriate.
  
  
• Betty Keddy, Secretary. Betty shares responsibility with the State Coordinators for the records of the organization and for updating and maintaining our website.  She is also responsible for publishing the agenda of AVP-MA meetings and for recording the minutes of such meetings.
  
  
• Richard Nethercut, Treasurer. Dick is responsible for 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.

Testimonials

In the following testimonials from prisoners and volunteers, AVP adjective names are used. AVP uses adjective names to protect the privacy of both inside and outside participants. Click a name to open a testimonial.

• Prisoners: Cool Karter, Jovial Justin, Jovial Jim
  
• Volunteers: Leisurely Larry

Schedule—Active AVP-MA Prison Workshops

Currently AVP workshops are active in the following Massachusetts prisons:

• MCI–Concord and Northeast Correctional Center Facilities. Coordinator Phyllis Staffier is seeking qualified AVP facilitators for workshops and outside participants who may want to become facilitators or pursue other volunteer programs in the prisons. Also, an AVP support group meets weekly at MCI-Concord.
  
• MCI–Shirley Medium and Minimum Facilities. Coordinator Betty Keddy is responsible for the scheduling and volunteer staffing of all workshops taking place at these two facilities.  Shirley Medium has 12 workshops each year. Shirley Minimum currently has 4 to 6 workshops a year. Also, an AVP support group meets weekly at MCI-Shirley Medium.
  
• Souza Baranowski Maximum Security Facility in Lancaster (on MCI-Shirley grounds). Coordinator Brian Nichols is responsible for the scheduling and volunteer staffing of all workshops. If volunteer facilitators are available, Brian tries to provide at least four workshops per year.  This facility does not allow outside participants and is dependent on experienced facilitators trained at other facilities.  There are two distinct prison populations who cannot come to the same workshop.  Our goal is to provide each group with 6 workshops a year.
  
• MCI-Norfolk Facility. Coordinators Richard Nethercut and Joan Russell are responsible for the scheduling and volunteer staffing of all workshops.  This program began in March 2007. With the beginning of a six-month cycle in February 2008, there will be monthly workshops. Outside participants and facilitators are welcome and should contact a coordinator.
  
• Old Colony Correctional Center (OCCC) . Coordinators Kathy Rubenstein and Wayne Assing are responsible for the handling of workshops. This program, new in 2006, hopes to provide one workshop a month for the general population and several a year in the Special Housing Unit (SHU).
  

There are several other prison and community possibilities—the two women's facilities (MCI-Framingham and South Middlesex Correctional Center), MCI-Gardner, the Veteran’s Medical Center in Bedford, MA, and churches and community centers in Boston.  If you have any interest in providing this powerful intervention project in any of these settings, please come train in one of our established programs.

Note: Trained facilitators are needed to help with workshops at all the active AVP-MA prison facilities. If you are a trained facilitator and can help, please contact the appropriate prison coordinator.

Following is the schedule for upcoming AVP workshops in Massachusetts:

For information about workshops at a facility not listed in the schedule, contact that facility's coordinator(s) directly for more information. See the coordinators' e-mail addresses at the beginning of this section.

Volunteering

If you would like to participate in an AVP workshop in Massachusetts, send an e-mail to one of the AVP-MA officers or to the coordinator for the facility where a workshop is being held. To complete the AVP training and become a facilitator, a person must participate in the Basic, Advanced, and Training for Facilitators weekend workshops and then serve as an apprentice co-facilitator in an actual workshop. Here is a brief description of each type of workshop:

• Basic workshop—Focuses on primary conflict resolution skills. Step-by-step experiences and exercises focus on affirmation, communication, cooperation, and creative conflict resolution.
  
• Advanced workshop—Allows a deeper look at aspects of violence, such as stereotyping, power, fear, and anger. The workshop builds upon our collective experience in communication, cooperation, and problem solving. Consensus is presented as a deciscion making process.
  
• Training for Facilitators—Focuses on team building and leadership skills. The curriculum includes group process skills, team leadership methods, and hands-on experience.

Meetings

AVP-MA holds business meetings at least twice each year. The last two meetings were held on February 16, 2008 and September 15, 2007.

The next AVP-MA business meeting will be held in the fall of 2008 (date to be announced).

Related Links

Here are some helpful links:

• AVP-USA provides information about AVP across the US and internationally. Access to AVP materials can be found on the site as well.
  
• AVP-New England provides access to information about AVP programs in other New England states.
  
• Our Prison Neighbors provides information about AVP as well as other volunteer activities in prisons. If you have never volunteered in a Massachusetts prison, see the frequently asked questions page for helpful information.
  
• Massachusetts Criminal Justice Policy Coalition is dedicated to the advancement of effective, just, and humane criminal justice policy in Massachusetts.
  
• Partakers, Inc. is committed to advancing restorative justice, rehabilitation, and the healing transformation of both prisoners and society.
  
  

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P. O. Box 333
Concord, MA 01742

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