Institute for the Study & Practice of Nonviolence

October trip to Belfast

In October 2007, Institute Director Teny Gross traveled to Belfast with Father Ray Malm, a co-founder of the Institute and a priest at Saint Michael’s Parish on Providence’s South Side; Maggie Meany, operations director at Amos House, and a trainer at the Institute; Ajay Benton, program manager for the Streetworkers Program at the Institute; and Sal Monteiro, streetworker and trainer at the Institute.

The Institute's contingent worked with adults and children in a sectarian area of Belfast that has long suffered from poverty and violence. Although violence has decreased in Northern Ireland, our trip hosts at the Forthspring Inter Community Group say sectarianism and polarization continue as problems. And, new challenges, like increased drug use and teen suicide, have emerged.

Read Julia Steiny's Providence Journal column on the trip here.

Read Teny's blog entries from Belfast, hosted by the Providence Journal here.

Providence Journal: Summer jobs can help steer youths away from violence

Sunday, May 13, 2007
By Andy Smith
Journal Staff Writer


PROVIDENCE — The Institute for the Study & Practice of Nonviolence, based in Providence, plans to provide 60 summer jobs for Providence youths as part of its Beloved Community Summer Jobs Program this year, up from 45 jobs last year.

What’s the connection between employment and nonviolence?

P.J. Fox, operations manager for the Institute, said employment is an effective way to reduce violence.

An April 10 letter sent to members of the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce asking for support, signed by Providence Police Chief Dean Esserman and Teny Gross, executive director of the institute, said that statistics show July and August are the most dangerous months for a young person in Providence.

Providence Journal: At Jenks, nonviolent resolution is fun

The Providence Journal - Friday, April 6, 2007
By John Castellucci
Journal Staff Writer

PAWTUCKET — The audience was pumped, eager to hear the rap music, poetry and songs that everyone knew would be the fun part of the program.

But first, a couple of questions.

“I’d like to know, first of all, what you think are the biggest causes of violence,” said Pam Steager, taking the stage in Jenks Junior High School.

“Peer pressure,” one student answered.

“People pushing you into it,” another student said.

“Personality,” someone else answered.

“Seeing your parents fight.”

The answers to that question and to the question that followed — “What do you think are the ways that we could be more nonviolent?” — pleased Steager, who is director of training for the Institute for the Study and Practice of Nonviolence.

Trauma Surgical Team & ISPN Streetworkers presentation

Click here for a PDF of the flyer.

Friday Aug. 25 - Graduation Ceremony

The Institute for the Study and Practice of Nonviolence
Invites you to join us as we celebrate

The 4th Annual Graduation Ceremony
for members of the
Beloved Community Summer Jobs Program
Youth working in their communities, studying nonviolence, and practicing for a bright future

Friday, August 25, 2006   4-6 pm

Peace Street Campus of The Met School*
365 Dexter Street                                  
Providence, Rhode Island                     

RSVP: (401) 785-2320 or pj@nonviolenceinstitute.org

March 2006 Nonviolence Training

In March and early April 2006, the Institute for the Study and Practice of Nonviolence again offered our Training of Trainers (TOT) program. This 5-week intensive study prepares participants to go out into the community and teach ISPN's Nonviolence curriculum.

We will hold another training in a few months. As always, we invite you to consider attending or referring someone who you think would benefit from these trainings.

Currently, we are working in school systems in Woonsocket, Pawtucket, Cranston, Lincoln and Providence. We start with 3rd grades and teach on up through high school. We also offer a variety of Nonviolence workshops to community groups, corporations, church groups... So, again, if teaching Nonviolence appeals to you, please contact us. Or, if you know someone who may be interested, please let them know about these trainings.

Curious? Click here to read about a previous training class.

Once trainers go into the classroom, we pay an hourly rate whenever possible. We think people who teach peace should be paid for theirwork.

For more information, contact Jane E. Jellison, Director of Training or Kate Mullin, AmeriCorps Vista.

Click here to download the TOT Brochure (.pdf file)

David Cartagena: 2005 graduate of Institute's Nonviolence Trainers

from the Providence Journal:

Volunteers learn ways to promote nonviolence
Trixy Ferrell, one of 14 graduates, was motivated to get involved and take the training class after her 18-year-old son was slain in April.

Friday, August 26, 2005

BY KAREN A. DAVIS
Journal Staff Writer

PROVIDENCE -- Dressed in a light blue dress shirt and faded blue jeans, David Cartegena stood before the City Hall audience overcome with emotion and temporarily speechless.

It had been a while since he cried, he confessed to the crowd. And, he didn't know what specifically prompted him to do so yesterday.

Nonviolence Book and Media List

Nonviolence Book and Media List: Part One
Compiled by Sheila Lennon, Nonviolence Senior Trainer

click here to view the list

Beloved Community teaches Cranston kids the value of non-violence

CRANSTON HERALD   6/09/2005

By LISA DiMAIO

Dr. Martin Luther King’s dream lives on in the “Beloved Community” – a community for third, fourth and fifth graders at Edgewood Highlands where everyone is treated with respect and fairness.

More on the 3rd Training of Trainers

14 committed individuals from diverse backgrounds throughout Rhode Island participated in a 5-week training program, learning the Kingian philosophy of Nonviolence (Six Principles of Nonviolence and the Six Steps to Problem Solving).

Nonviolence training at Stop Wasting Abandoned Properties Inc. (SWAP)

ISPN conducts nonviolence training in Northern Ireland

US lessons for interface workers

Tackling the mean streets of Boston may have lessons for Belfast community workers, say their US counterparts. A group from New England is on a week-long visit to pass on advice for those working in NI's interface areas.

Special One-Day Training - Saturday, July 9, 2005

Click to get a printable version of the training flyer.