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Mid-Missouri Alternatives to Violence Project

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 Guide to Transforming Power 

  • Seek to resolve conflicts by reaching common ground. 
  • Reach for that something good in others. 
  • Listen before making judgments.
  • Base your position on truth. 
  • Be ready to revise your position, if it is wrong. 
  • Expect to experience great inward power to act. 
  • Risk being creative rather than violent. 
  • Use surprise and humor. 
  • Learn to trust your inner sense of when to act. 
  • Be willing to suffer for what is important. 
  • Be patient and persistent. 
  • Build community based on honesty, respect and caring.

The Mid Missouri Alternatives to Violence Project is a group of dedicated volunteers providing workshops in the community and in area prisons. Community Workshops are offered periodically in Columbia, MO. These workshops are experiential and each participant contributes greatly to the workshop's success. The workshops are beneficial for all, regardless of motivation for participation. Previous participants have said that the workshop helped to develop skills of peaceful conflict resolution and in dealing with anger in their personal or work lives.

For more information on what happens in a workshop, go to the Workshop page. 

To find out about upcoming workshops, contact us. 

How to become an AVP Facilitator

  1. Take a basic community workshop
  2. Take an advanced workshop.
  3. Attend monthly AVP council meetings. At these meetings we learn more about facilitating workshops by sharing our experiences and schedule future workshops.
  4. Do three or more workshops while being mentored by fellow facilitators.
  5. If you choose to do community and youth workshops: There are several facilitators who focus on this. Recruiting participants is a vital part of this. Going to community groups and churches and sharing about AVP is also important. Efforts are underway to offer youth workshops at this time.
  6. If you choose to do prison workshops: You must become certified by the Department of Corrections as a ‘Volunteer in Corrections.’ The requirements usually includes a one day volunteer training, an orientation at the prison where you will be volunteering and a health screening. For more information, check the Volunteer in Corrections website.

Here are two pdf files which contain information about becoming a volunteer in corrections:

Steps to become a Volunteer in Corrections

Volunteer in Corrections Application

All of the workshops are experiential: The more you participate, the more you will learn about yourself, about violence, about communication and about the conflict resolution skills presented. Trained facilitators enjoy working as teams and we try to practice the skills we present.

Working with Alternatives to Violence Project YOU can make a difference!

For more information, contact Mid-Missouri AVP at avp.missouri@gmail.com