Anti-Violence Ventures

Our Program

​Anti-Violence Ventures project series intends to break the cycle of violence in the Black community through community conversations that engage Black men and boys.

Our Method

​​Anti-Violence Ventures expands the engagement of Black male voices around DOMESTIC, COMMUNITY, and FAMILY VIOLENCE by curating safe and affirming spaces where Black men and boys are empowered to work towards healing.

​Questions We Asked When Considering Violence Prevention

Can we unlearn the assumption that Black men and boys do not talk about violence or engage in violence prevention? ​

Can one form of violence be reduced or eliminated without addressing or dealing with the other types of violence in Black communities?

Can Black women reduce or eliminate any forms of violence in Black homes and communities without aligning or working in partnership with Black men?

The Anti-Violence Ventures Experience

Train

We employ intervention workers with lived experience and license to operate within the communities we serve. We train our ambassadors to become advocates through skill-based instruction in community organizing, planning, and engagement. 

Inform

AVV conducts men’s circles where Black men & boys gather in the name of love in a safe space where we talk and heal. We gather for mental-health empowerment, healing, and activism with the aim of building existing friendships, expanding networks, and establishing service-oriented communities​.

Advocate

AVV believes Black men & women must work together to reduce or eliminate cycles of violence impacting our communities. We recognize our interdependence and how inextricably intertwined we are as a community pursuing safety for our families. 

Collaborate

We incorporate and imbed violence prevention into activities, events, and outreach efforts; we often incentivize these efforts by partnering with individuals, for-profit businesses, and nonprofit entities and contributing financial backing and assistance to achieve our goals.