PJ Fox | Nonviolence Institute executive director
We are in the business of ending violence, in all its forms. Sadly it seems, the Nonviolence Institute has enough work to last decades.
Still, I have learned during my 15 years with the institute never to lose hope. There is a path to confronting, defusing and moving beyond violence. And as we have learned, our success does not happen alone. Solving seemingly intractable issues, no matter the setting, requires community; it requires partnerships.
For us, the partnership starts with law enforcement. With the Providence Police, we have built a model unlike any in the country. We emphasize fairness and put the “tough-on-crime” mentality behind us, concepts that are as applicable within a business office as they are in the streets of a city.
But our efforts require more than just one partner. Elected leaders, social service organizations, and yes, the business community, have come together to build a local society rooted in justice and equal opportunity.
We see the power of consistency. From working with youths to crime victims to the formerly incarcerated, we stay in touch. We connect them to support. And we never walk away.
This all-hands approach is the most important ingredient of our success, and it can be replicated.
In the face of senseless tragedies, take heart. Our model is Martin Luther King Jr.’s Beloved Community. But the approach we take can be applied to any community, so long as we all take part.