Overview: Violence can be described learned behavior that one generation can carry to the next. Children and others can learn:

• that they have the power to make choices about how to act or be,
• to choose the power of words to express feelings and to protect or defend, and
• violence hurts--people, places or things.

How Violence Prevention Works: Prevention involves work to:

• build skills among key role models,
• inform to meet different needs (teacher, child, parent, health worker, business),
• develop life skills (resist/refuse, choice)
• create alternatives-to express anger, boredom, loss or pain, and to celebrate,
• support development of "relationship networks" (belonging, social capital),
• influence laws, values, and norms.

The Payoff: Conflict-transformed can create conditions for satisfying and healthy relations. Choices can empower a sense of control and strengthen ability to handle feeling alone, separate, or lacking purpose. Collaboration among "systems"--parent, school staff, youth, law enforcement, local business, church--can strengthen belonging.

How to Make It Happen: Violence prevention involves community-wide commitment, participation by many people, and collaborative links. Ingredients can include: 1) skills to resist, 2) frameworks to prevent or to intervene and transform and 3) environments-or cultures-that model and support healthy conditions. Facilitated by:

• cultural audit and cultural competency,
• dialog, future vision, and strategic plans
• leadership, team building, mentoring,
• electronic survey & learning community.

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"Preserving our Communities," (1993), Prevention Forum, Illinois Prevention Resource Center.

Bernard, B., "An overview of community-based prevention," Prevention Research Findings: 1988.

Florin, P. & Chavis, D.M., (1990), "Community Development, Community Participation, and Substance Abuse Prevention," unpublished.

Putnam, R., "Bowling Alone: America's Declining Social Capital," Journal of Democracy, 6(1), 65-78.

Senge, P.M. et al (1994), The Fifth Discipline Fieldbook: Strategies and Tools…, New York, NY: Doubleday.

Sirianni, C, & Friedland, L., Social Capital and Civic Innovation, Civic Practices Network, Web.

Weisbord, M.R. (1992), Discovering Common Ground…, San Francisco, CA: Berrett Koehler Publishers, Inc.