Friends for a NonViolent World

Not every silence is evil. Sometimes silence is wisdom, reflection, or restraint. But when people are being harmed, degraded, excluded, or crushed, silence stops being neutral. It becomes permission.

Violence does not begin with fists, it often begins with silence, fear, humiliation, and unresolved pain.
That is why the Alternative to Violence Project matters.

AVP helps people discover something powerful, the ability to respond with dignity, courage, and respect instead of anger and harm. In a world where conflict is everywhere, peace is not weakness, it is discipline.

What if the real strength is not in overpowering others, but in learning how to heal, listen, and transform conflict before it destroys lives?

Peace is learned. Peace is practiced. Peace is possible.

At friends For a NonViolent World we bring AVP to life in Minnesota. Try an AVP workshop for your group or community now!

⏳ The countdown is ON!

Early Bird registration for our April 9th Summit ends on the 27th — and you don’t want to miss these savings.

Secure your spot, lock in the best rate, and get ready for an unforgettable experience.

🎟 Register now! https://bit.ly/4ccRtpk

Explore meaningful ways to get involved with nonprofits serving Dakota County and surrounding communities at the Community Volunteer Fair on Tuesday, March 3 from 3 to 5 p.m. at Wescott Library.

Connect with more than 20 local nonprofits to learn about opportunities ranging from youth programs and adult language education to hospice care, environmental work, public health, violence prevention, and disability support. Many roles offer training and direct supervision, making it easy to get started.

Whether you are looking to give back, build new skills, or meet others in your community, there will be opportunities for all ages and interests!

Join the QVS staff team as the next Development and Outreach Manager! Visit www.quakervoluntaryservice.org/employment to find the job description and how to apply. Priority will be given to applications received by February 23rd.

Volunteerism is Alive and Well: A View from MN - Minnesota Alliance for Volunteer Advancement

Join MAVA for the 2025 Cultivating Access and Belonging in Volunteerism Virtual Conference on Friday, December 5. This year’s theme, Solidarity in Action – We Are Stronger Together, challenges volunteer engagement leaders to move beyond silos and work collectively toward equity and inclusion. Explore workshops and keynotes focused on unlearning, collaboration, and building environments where solidarity thrives. Learn more and register: https://www.mavanetwork.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=286912&module_id=738755

📣Only one month away! Calling all Volunteer Leaders‼️

MAVA's 6th Annual Virtual Cultivating Access and Belonging Conference is happening December 5th, 2025. This year's theme is Solidarity in Action - We Are Stronger Together 💪🏽💪🏽 How can you work in solidarity when silos and tunnel vision cloud your ability to prioritize collective work? 💡The answer is you can't!

Our conference workshop sessions will amplify and identify the systems, structures, and ways of thinking that get in the way of building bridges towards collective action and solidarity between organizations, individuals, volunteers, especially in underrepresented and marginalized communities. This conference will unpack strategies and tips on unlearning and relearning how to operate with a lens of intentional collaboration and creating the environment for solidarity to thrive!

Register now: MAVANetwork.org/Conference

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