AVP Workshops

Alternatives to Violence Project teaches through experiential learning. In our workshops and activities we show how to:

recognize the peacemaking skills you have already and learn new ones
manage strong feelings such as anger and fear
deal more effectively with risk and danger
build good relationships with other people
communicate well in difficult situations
be true to yourself while respecting other people
understand why conflict happens
uncover your innate “transforming power” to transform a situation from aggression to cooperation

What's in an
AVP Workshop?

The Transforming Power curriculum was developed by incarcerated men, the Quakers of New York and Bernard LaFayette, of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Beloved Community.

AVP Workshops are highly interactive and experiential. Facilitators guide but do not lecture. Workshops offer a variety of exercises, discussions, role plays, and light and livelies - fun and light-hearted activities.

Over three days we gradually connect with one another, build a workshop community and foster trust while having fun and personally enriching experience.

Do stereotypes and labels interfere with appreciating the inherent human worth on dignity? Hear some AVP perspectives in this YOUTUBE video

Additional
AVP
Activities

Weekly AVP Meetings

Omaha AVP meets weekly at the Community Corrections Center – Omaha working with men who will soon end of their incarceration and transition to the community. Our 1.5 hours together include components of a workshop, but for short period of time: check-in, AVP exercise, a fun activity called a Light and Lively and a closing.

Participation varies due to work and school schedules, other program and recovery options and returning to community life.

Community Field Trips

To expand on the weekly transforming power meeting experience ,Omaha AVP hosts occasional community field trips for returning citizens.

Examples of the places we go:

Omaha SYmphony
Opera Omaha
Malcolm X Memorial Center
BlueBarn Theatre
The Joslyn

To quote an AVP participant, “We know how to survive on the inside, but we don't know or we've forgotten how to succeed on the outside. Community field trips show us what successful living looks like.”

Educational Events

To expand on the weekly transforming power meeting experience , Omaha AVP seeks out conferences, discussion groups, and other educational enrichment.

With gratitude for generous assistance, AVP members

Attended Tri-Faith Initiative's Race, Religion and Social Justice Conference
Collaborated with UNO English class to create story zines and
Joined in discussions at the Nebraskans for Peace annual conference

Community Outreach

Omaha AVP welcomes opportunities to share our mission, our programs and share our stories of lived experiences and successes.

Omaha AVP offers a Community Outreach service at the First Unitarian Church on the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Past topics include:

Through a collaboration with Inclusive Communities' Table Talks Omaha AVP co-sponsored two evening panel discussions:

AVP welcomes the opportunity to speak to college classes, civic organizations and community events.

Summer Basic Workshop
Aug 16, 23, 30, 2025

Omaha AVP offers two Basic Workshop: one in winter and one in summer, generally in January/Feb and August.
An AVP 3-day Basic Workshop is the beginning step to learning and personalizing AVP's transforming power lessons.

AVP facilitators guide the exercises and increasingly invite participants to contribute. As the workshop progresses, feelings of trust and belonging grow, and a workshop community forms.

Largely experiential, workshops meet 18 hours over 3 days.
The next In person community Omaha Basic Workshop will be Saturdays August 16, 23 & 30, 2025 from 9-4pm. Each day's workshop continues from the previous one. Please attend all 3 days.

Advanced Workshop
Oct 11, 18 & 25, 2025
contact us for future info

Building on the AVP transforming power foundation offered in the Basic Workshop, Advanced Workshops go deeper focusing on a specific topic such as forgiveness, healthy relationships, conflict resolution, anger or grief.

Completing a Basic Workshop or a series of mini-workshops is a prerequisite to attending an Advanced Workshop.

In person community Advanced Workshops meet 18-20 hours over 3 days. The next Omaha Advanced Workshop is tentatively scheduled for October 11, 18, 23, 2025 9-4pm.

AVP workshops are offered throughout the year.

For more information or to register, please CONTACT US

AVP Mini-Workshops

Omaha AVP offers mini-workshops as a way to "dip your toe" into AVP and "get a taste of the experiential workshops we offer.

Mini-workshops are, as the name implies, are shorter than Basic or Advanced Workshops lasting about 3 hours.

Mini-workshops are held in the community and open to all. Most are held on Sunday afternoons. Thanks to their generously sharing their beautiful building, most workshops are offered at the First Unitarian Church.

We strive to offer at least one workshop monthly. Currently we offer 5 mini-workshops as listed below, with a sixth coming late 2025.

Mini-workshops are free to everyone. Omaha AVP is a donation-funded non-profit. Your contributions are greatly appreciated.

Please Register in inquire about mini-workshops email omahaavp@gmail.com