Program Spotlight

Non-Violence Project: Open, Honest Talk Teaches Teens to Reduce Youth Violence

Does racism exist at Miami Killian High School? The topic sparked a red-hot debate at the weekly meeting of the school’s Non-Violence Project Club.

Students fired at the question from a range of angles – historical, religious, philosophical – and some very personal.

The NVP club, which launched five years ago at Killian, doesn’t shy from tackling tough topics, yet respect is the root word of every discussion. The students have come to understand that they can hold – and voice – different viewpoints and still collaborate and share good company.

Speakers are invited and talk on issues such as Invisible Children or drunk driving, and the group generates its own topics for discussions. Through the year, they’ve discussed job etiquette, self-esteem, self-awareness and more. Over the past few weeks as part of activities related to Black History month, the club has viewed three movies – Black in America, 500 Years Later and Black Exploitation – and they’re well-versed on the topic of racism.

NVP Club members participate in clean up and gardening of Peace Pole site on school grounds.

The conversation bounced back and forth for a half hour or so across the band-room where students sat in tiered rows, and then one of the Black students, Kelvin Edwards, offered that it wasn’t words, but instead the feeling behind them, that pointed to real racism.

“It’s all about how you throw it at me,” he said.

NVP Project Coordinator Christine Fabre both agreed and disagreed with his stance.

“Listen to the way you talk to each other. You use the “R” word – “Retard” – and the “N” word to each other all the time,” Fabre told the group. “You yourself can change – change the way that you speak to each other and you can be part of the solution.”  

The Non-Violence Project was originally founded in Sweden by Dr. Michael Nobel, of the Nobel Peace Prize family, and Non-Violence Project USA, based in Miami-Dade County, was founded by community leaders in 1996. Funded by The Children’s Trust, NVP operates clubs in several area high schools, yet Miami Killian is the only school that has an on-site NVP office and staff. While the organization has had an office on site for two years, this is the first year school that administrators integrated NVP services into the Student Services department. Senior Project Coordinator Brandon Holt, Project Coordinator Fabre and two project partners, Marcos Aguiar and Ronald Celiz, staff the onsite office.

NVP Club discussion topics are engaging and animated.

Celiz joined the NVP club while a senior at G. Holmes Braddock and he was hired as a project partner at Killian this year.

“I stumbled into a job with NVP, but it’s created this passion in me,” Celiz said. “I get to come out and create a better community, and what better place than at a high school – to catch them before they go out into the world.” For his position, Celiz said he’s had lots of training, through NVP and also through workshops offered by The Children’s Trust, the Department of Juvenile Justice and also Barry University.

But does the club make a difference?

“Absolutely,” he said. “In the sessions the students get to be open and experience different cultures. Miami is such a melting pot, in here they’re opened to knowledge and learning, and we’re teaching conflict resolution.”

NVP launched at Killian originally to provide mentoring through its Power mentoring program for students at risk of dropping out. Students are now referred to the club, an alternative to other stiffer sanctions.

Jordan Byrd, a sophomore, was assigned to attend club meetings after he got expelled in the 9th grade.

“Now I come whenever I can,” he said. “When you got something you need to express, this is the place.”

The club’s discussions and activities are geared to prevent violence and to mold leaders – and to make an impact in the community. This year the club has volunteered for Relay For Life, canned food drives, Toys for Tots, and participated in an AIDS awareness walk. 

The number of incidents at the school has dropped since the club established a presence – this year there have been none. 

“We put out fires,” Coordinator Fabre said. “Teachers refer situations to us, especially now that there are fewer school trust counselors. Kids have issues at home, boyfriend/girlfriend issues – lots of things.” 

The club meets every Wednesday from 2:30-4:30 p.m. Attendance is optional, but many of the 40 or so students in the club come every week. Everyone signs a consent form to respect confidentiality.

Ethan Behre, a junior, didn’t know much about what the club did when he heard about the club early in the year. He sat in for a session and joined the next day.

“I like the community – all the students – and everything they do for us. We go on field trips, to the park, participated in the AIDS walk.” Behre says his involvement in the group has made him a better person, more appreciative and caring for others.

Isolda “Isa” Morales and Mercedes “Mercy” Chavez were elected president and vice president respectively this year. The girls, now seniors, joined NVP last year and were inspired by the club’s mission to mentor student leaders and to develop programming that targets juvenile violence and crime, especially in communities identified as “high-risk.”

Early in 2010, following a fatal stabbing between two students at another Miami high school, the NVP Club helped sponsor a student summit at the school. Isa, Mercy and Sabrina Smith, club historian, addressed the crowd of some 500 students and talked about the NVP club and its efforts to reduce youth violence.

Chavez said that she especially likes the fact that the club is run by the kids. “We’re able to speak out and there’s a lot of interactive learning.”

Morales’ involvement in the club has helped her see the value of open dialogue and she intends to continue to do community outreach when she goes on to college at FIU next year. 

“We’re so open with each other, the mentoring and things we do for the community – it opens you up to the bigger picture, a bigger cause,” she said. “The club brings that value out of all the people. I like those moments where everyone keeps opening up their hearts and minds, saying what they feel – and not being ashamed of it.”

Written by Michael R. Malone