Nonviolence Institute

Nonviolence Institute HISTORY
The Institute was founded by members of St. Michael’s Church team ministry in 2001 as a long-term solution to violence.
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Originally a training organization, the Institute hired its first Executive Director in 2001 and the Streetworkers program was introduced in 2003. Since then, a constellation of programs has grown to better serve the community’s most vulnerable youth and families whose lives have been affected by violence. Today the organization has a $1.8 million budget, a board of 30 members and a staff of 32. T

HE NEED
Providence is one of the poorest cities for children in the nation, and poverty level correlates to rates of violence. There are estimated to be over 1,400 gang members in the city. A 2009 survey of youth in the Institute’s summer jobs program revealed that nearly 50% of the respondents had lost a family member to murder; 75% had lost a friend to violence; 90% had a friend who was stabbed or shot; nearly 90% said they regularly witness violence in their schools. PROGRAMS
Nonviolence Training directly teaches the principles and practices of nonviolence to students, police officers, inmates, and community members. Annually trains new trainers to work in schools and other settings. Outreach Specialists provide advocacy and mentoring, and act as a positive presence in the streets and in the lives of gang-involved or at-risk youth. They build relationships, gather information and mediate conflicts to prevent violence. They respond to stabbings, shootings and homicides. Youth Programs provide positive opportunities for youth in the form of employment, life skills training, leadership development, and safe-space and awareness-raising events. Victim Support Services reaches out to provide services to families and friends of homicide victims, as well as living victims of stabbings and shootings. Juvenile Reentry provides a family-centered approach and case management to releasees from the RI Training School referred by Probation and Parole Officers.

Join us tomorrow for Coffee and Smoothies with the Community. We're giving complimentary smoothies by to our first 20 g...
05/26/2026

Join us tomorrow for Coffee and Smoothies with the Community. We're giving complimentary smoothies by to our first 20 guests.

See you tomorrow! Wednesday, May 27th, 9-10:30am

05/22/2026

Kicking off Memorial Day weekend at NVI!
We hope that you all have a wonderful and safe weekend.

Join us today for our second Peace Walk at Roger Williams Park. Meet us at the Boat House @ 12 pm and we'll go over the ...
05/22/2026

Join us today for our second Peace Walk at Roger Williams Park. Meet us at the Boat House @ 12 pm and we'll go over the route. See you then!

We're excited to announce that we've partnered with to host Peace Walks every Friday! Starts this Friday, join us at 12...
05/13/2026

We're excited to announce that we've partnered with to host Peace Walks every Friday! Starts this Friday, join us at 12pm. All are welcome 💙

Things are getting sweet at this week's Coffee with the Community as we honor Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage...
05/11/2026

Things are getting sweet at this week's Coffee with the Community as we honor Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

Our very own will be making delicious Vietnamese Iced Coffees for our guests.

Come enjoy a sweet cold glass and have a chat.

Wed. May 13th, 9-10:30am
265 Oxford St. Providence, RI

Thanks so much to the Brown Health CHW team for all their hard work making the Nonviolence Institute look amazing! We lo...
05/06/2026

Thanks so much to the Brown Health CHW team for all their hard work making the Nonviolence Institute look amazing! We love the new plants!

The future is in the hands of our youth, and we're dedicated to equipping them with the skills to navigate conflicts pea...
04/27/2026

The future is in the hands of our youth, and we're dedicated to equipping them with the skills to navigate conflicts peacefully. Our nonviolence training is a lifelong commitment that these young adults will continue to practice and grow from. Best of luck to our April cohort!

As National Crime Victims’ Rights Week comes to a close, we pause to remember why this work matters.We honor those who c...
04/26/2026

As National Crime Victims’ Rights Week comes to a close, we pause to remember why this work matters.
We honor those who continue on with courage, and we hold close the memory of those who should still be here. Their names and their stories live with us and they push us to keep moving forward.

04/24/2026

National Crime Victim's Rights Week. Here are some reasons why we advocate.

Address

265 Oxford Street
Providence, RI
02905

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+14017852320

Website

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