"The mission of the Nonviolence Institute is to create, by word and example, a community that uses the principles and practices of nonviolence to prevent, interrupt, and heal violence and to uplift the community."
Intervention Services
The Nonviolence Institute provides 24/7 support to individuals and families impacted by violence, responding to every incident across Rhode Island with immediate, trauma-informed care, often beginning at the hospital bedside and/or the scene.
Our Intervention Services team include Victim Advocates and Outreach Specialists, who offer compassionate support and connects victims to critical resources such as counseling, relocation assistance, and financial support.
Outreach Specialists play a vital role in community violence intervention, building trusted relationships, mediating conflicts, and helping prevent retaliation. As credible messengers with lived experience, they meet people where they are: on the streets, in schools, and in neighborhoods, guiding them toward safer paths.
As healing continues, we remain a consistent source of care through emotional support, creative therapies, and community-centered events. Together, we console, sustain, and uplift our community, building the Beloved Community every step of the way.
Street Outreach
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Strong Partnerships
We work with schools and local organizations in Providence, Pawtucket, Central Falls, and Woonsocket to prevent violence, support high-risk youth, and connect individuals to education and jobs.
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Mentorship
1:1 mentorship is offered to at-risk youth, helping them navigate challenges and make nonviolent choices through access to resources and opportunities.
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Mediation
We mediate community conflicts to interrupt cycles of retaliation, using nonviolence principles to resolve disputes.
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Re-Entry Support
Our Discharge Planner works with incarcerated individuals up to six months before release to build personalized reentry plans. We connect individuals to housing, employment, and support; creating a safe and stable transition back into the community and preventing cycles of violence.
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Victim advocates provide confidential services for victims of violent crime,
as well as support for individuals and families affected by homicide in Rhode Island. Services include:
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Informing clients of their rights
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Developing personalized safety plans
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Assist Victim Compensation claims
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Court accompaniment and support
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Assist clients with needed law enforcement communication
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Provisions of additional resources & community services
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Case management and ongoing support
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Specific to Homicide Survivors (Families & Loved Ones):
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Support with funeral planning and arrangements
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Personalized safety plans
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Grief support sessions offered in English and Spanish
Victim & Survivor
Support
Get in Touch
Phone: 401.785.2320
Victim Advocates ext. 309
nieves@nonviolenceinstitute.org
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Outreach Specialists ext. 225
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