For the past two and a half months, I have had the pleasure of interning with an organization that does extraordinary work in the community called New Foundations Nonviolence Center. New Foundations is an organization dedicated to reducing violence in the community. Our workshops are for people in the community as well as inmates, and they teach individuals a new and more positive way to live. The workshops have been proven quite effective - and what's more - they have been highly praised by the correctional facility personnel who have witnessed tremendous results among participating inmates. New Foundations provides visitation through its volunteers to all inmates who desire the service of the organization's One-to-One program. In addition, the organization works to connect recently-released individuals with programs that will help them reintegrate into society and become self-sufficient.

The Alternatives to Violence Project (or AVP) is a large part of what New Foundations does. AVP is open to members of the Colorado community and inmates in Colorado at the Ft. Lyons, Camp George West, and Cañon City correctional facilities. The project has three levels: a basic workshop, an advanced workshop, and training for facilitators. Each one of these workshops and training sessions utilizes group activities, sharing exercises, and inspirational messages that help individuals build greater skills in communication and interaction with others. Participants learn to effectively resolve disagreements and communicate their points of view with others while maintaining peace and respect. This wonderful project depends on the generosity of volunteers who travel to multiple facilities to give and participate in these workshops. AVP is in need of funding as expenses build with the money needed for gas in traveling, money for volunteers to stay in hotels when the workshop is particularly far from home, materials such as markers, pens, food for the sessions, and especially for manuals and handouts for participants (inmates receive their manuals free of charge). The Alternatives to Violence Project is beneficial to all individuals - providing tools that teach one how to overcome obstacles in our society - and plays an important role in building a stronger community.