• Recently, we partnered with New Beginning Outreach Foundation in Lancaster for the purpose of offering AVP workshops to parolees and other clients in the Antelope Valley. Their staff have been trained and have become qualified AVP Apprentice Facilitators.
  
  
• We also partnered with Paving the Way in Lancaster for the purpose of offering AVP workshops in conjunction with re-entry programs at Lancaster prison. Their staff have been trained, with training completion in June (see schedule below). Their workshops are open to community also (prerequisites apply for Training for Facilitator workshops). Dates are:
  
  

  June 19^th & 20^th  
  

• We have also been talking with Families in Action in Palmdale to see if there is a way AVP can help with their high school youth. Some of their staff are taking the training.
  
  

Contact Diana if you are interested in any of the above workshops:  661-942-3025


• We were asked to introduce AVP and AVYFP (AV Youth for Peace) to Cole Middle School parents and youth moving to high school. The presentation was April 15.
  
  
• On April 24, we were invited to present AVYFP to high school students.
  
  
  
• WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST COMMUNITY & PRISON APPRENTICE FACILITATORS!
  

  Jean Varden* Donna Cooper* Jacob Gorodetzki* Sharlene McClary Stephen Valdez Gloria Whetstone Sondra Noah Duana Wilson Wave Graham

  Christine Erskine Michael Ross William (Chuck) Bateham Marion Bogan David Davis James Jones Kari Robertson Larry Thompson April Joy

• AND WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST CERTIFIED FACILITATORS!
  

  Jean Varden Donna Cooper Jacob Gorodetzki Doug Couch

• Welcome also to our new CCI & CSATF facilitators (not listed).
  
  
• CCI-Tehachapi  We have been moved to a new yard. We are on Yard 1. In May, we will do our first Training for Facilitators and have inmate facilitators to start working with us. Most months, we are doing double workshops there.
  

  Facilitators can sign up with Diana 661-942-3025.

  
  
• CSATF-Corcoran  We will had our first workshop in May. We had 21 really eager inmates, 3 inmate facilitators and 4 outside facilitators representing AVP-San Juaquin Valley, AVP Los Angeles-Santa Monica, and AVP Antelope Valley. It was supported extremely well by prison officials and officers. It was an awesome workshop. We will be doing these workshops the first week-end of each month.
  

  Facilitators can sign up with Diana 661-942-3025.

  
  
• We hope to start working with the prison in Lancaster soon and set up a schedule for them.
  
  
  

• We are also available to do presentations of AVP for groups. They can be 2-4 hours in length and will give people a chance to experience AVP without taking the workshop.
  
  

Peace to you all,
                     Diana Couch

4 Teen Summits
4 Middle School Presentations
2 AV Youth for Peace workshops
2 Basic community workshops
34 prison workshops
3 Familes in Action Youth workshops

Becoming a facilitator
Becoming a community support person
Attend our workshops
Invite your friends and family to take our workshops
Become a financial supporter:

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Tax-Deductible Donations can be made to AVPH-AVPAV and mailed to:

AVPH-AVPAV
43759 15th St. West #22
Lancaster, CA 93534

The Federal Tax ID is 47-0957404

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Workshop Interest: Call Doug or Diana 661-942-3025

Facilitate: Call Doug or Diana 661-942-3025

It has been a pleasure to serve as your AVP Program Director. I hope to work with many of you soon.

If you no longer wish to be on this e-mail list, please hit "REPLY" and type "REMOVE" in the subject line.

Diana Couch
661-942-3025
avpav@aol.com
www.avpav.org (this site)

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International Scene:

• Doug Couch met some men from Liberia online, who became interested in bringing AVP to Liberia. This is the hope and desire of many people in Liberia, returning from refugee camps after a combined total of 14 years of wars. Upon seeking interest in AVP-USA, AVP-International, and AVP groups around the world, a group was found who is already planning workshops in Sierra Leone and Liberia, with further plans toward Ghana. This is Quaker Peace Network West Africa. Their peace-building proposal is quite extensive, covering many aspects, in which AVP plays a vital role. In addition to the QPNWA efforts, there are two people who plan to travel to Liberia (for their own purposes) and visit these interested people while there. Also, there is a man interested in traveling to Liberia to facilitate once a program is in place. So things are gradually shaping up, although it may take months or years to accomplish.
  
  These men have brought together 30+ people interested in taking workshops (plus more not listed in the list they provided). Also, they have obtained donated space from a local minister for holding the workshops. All this with having to pay by the hour to use the Internet at a café where they have to run a generator for electricity to get on the web, as the infrastructure there has been destroyed.
  
  AVPAV has printed 100 each 88-page informational brochures and sent them to Liberia along with various other books and booklets. The folks there were very excited as they read of what we do. The men I met provided photos of the materials being read by the group, and of explaining to those who had difficulty understanding what they read. Information on QPNWA is at AVP-World list serve http://groups.yahoo.com/group/avp-world (joining Yahoo and the goup required to view). QPNWA also has their own web site at http://www.qpnwa.org.

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Misc Note:

• Doug Couch met a man yesterday (February 22) online, who immediately became interested in what we do, and who requested information for contacting AVP in Massachusetts. So every time we mention that we work with a nonprofit, we open the door for people to ask, "What nonprofit is that?" Which of course...
  
  Might I also suggest that AVPAV facilitators consider signs for their vehicles, as people inquire about AVP often upon seeing these. When people approach you, instead of the other way around, they are more apt to enlarge the interest they've already decided upon, than listen while we tell them what we'd like them to be interested in.

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Note:

• Two 10-15 minute DVDs are available for use by facilitators:
  

  1. Video clips from a workshop inside a prison. (note that this video is approximately the same as the video on this web site)
  
  2. Video clips from a Help Increase the Peace Project (HIPP) youth workshop, based on and comparable to AVP.

• AVP - Antelope Valley would love to present AVP to your group. Local (Antelope Valley area) presentations can range from a 15-minutes to a 1-2 hour mini-workshop to get a feel for what we do and the impact it has. Call us regarding presentations for groups in other areas, and we will try to set something up that works for both of us.
  
  Contact Doug & Diana Couch at 661-942-3025 or email us at AVPAV@AOL.COM
  for DVD and Presentation information.

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Schedule Summary for AVP-Antelope Valley activities:

"Community" Workshops & Activities in Antelope Valley are coming up:

NOTE: Prerequisite to Advanced & Training for Facilitator workshops is taking an AVP Basic Workshop. July 24th through 26th, 2010 - Basic Workshop Times: Friday, Saturday & Sunday, July 24th through 26th - 8:00am - 5:00pm Participants must attend all three sessions to receive a certificate of completion. Location: TBA Lancaster/Palmdale, CA Cost: $45 Per person. ($50 at the door) Scholarships available. Call to Preregister: Diana Couch, 661-942-3025, avpav@aol.com August 21st & 22nd, 2010 - Training for Facilitators Workshop Times: Saturday & Sunday, August 21st & 22nd - 8:00am - 5:00pm Participants must attend both days to receive a certificate of completion and AVP Basic Manual. After graduating from this class, you can sign up for on-the-job training as an apprentice. Most people then become certified AVP facilitators. AVP Antelope Valley is currently working in 2 prisons: CSATF-Corcoran and CCI-Tehachapi. We are hoping to open CSP-Lancaster in the fall. We are also scheduling youth workshops for high school youths as well as Community workshops for adults. If this work interests you and you have completed a Basic workshop, this is the workshop for you! Workshop Location: Paving the Way 44814 Cedar Avenue (previously 44818 Fern) Lancaster, CA Cost: $45 Per person. ($50 at the door) Scholarships available. Call to Preregister: Please mail the attached [Preregistration Form]. Class size is limited! (For information: Diana Couch, 661-942-3025, avpav@aol.com) Payment should be made out to AVPH-AVPAV and sent to: AVP-AV 43759 15th St. West #22 Lancaster, CA 93534 (address for mail only) For those interested, there are several motels/hotels in the area. Here are a couple you can try. Motel 6 43540 17th St. West Lancaster, CA 93534 661-948-0435 1 person 1 bed $49.99 2 people 2 beds $59.99 Oxford Inn incl breakfast and evening reception 1651 W. Ave K Lancaster, CA 93534 661-949-3423 1 person 1 bed $79.00 2 persons 2 beds $89.00 Taxes for this area are about 7% and will be added to your rate. Both places have a pool. (It is hot out here.)

Community participants are allowed to take workshops inside the prison, along with the inmates. The prison requires clearance requests be received and completely processed by them prior to workshops. We ask that requests are sent to us two months prior to the workshop (in order for us to review to make sure all information needed is present, and for the prison to process the clearance). Contact Diana Couch at 661-942-3025 or by email at AVPAV@AOL.COM

"Prison" Workshops in Corcoran are coming up:

July 16-18, 2010 - Basic Workshop, California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility, Corcoran, CA Contact Diana Couch, 661-942-3025, avpav@aol.com August 6-8, 2010 - Advanced Workshop, California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility, Corcoran, CA Contact Diana Couch, 661-942-3025, avpav@aol.com September 3-5, 2010 - Basic Workshop, California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility, Corcoran, CA Contact Diana Couch, 661-942-3025, avpav@aol.com October 1-3, 2010 - Basic Workshop, California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility, Corcoran, CA Contact Diana Couch, 661-942-3025, avpav@aol.com November 5-7, 2010 - Advanced Workshop, California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility, Corcoran, CA Contact Diana Couch, 661-942-3025, avpav@aol.com December 3-5, 2010 - Basic Workshop, California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility, Corcoran, CA Contact Diana Couch, 661-942-3025, avpav@aol.com

Community participants are allowed to take workshops inside the prison, along with the inmates. The prison requires clearance requests be received and completely processed by them prior to workshops. We ask that requests are sent to us two months prior to the workshop (in order for us to review to make sure all information needed is present, and for the prison to process the clearance). Contact Diana Couch at 661-942-3025 or by email at AVPAV@AOL.COM

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"Prison" Workshops in Tehachapi are coming up:

August 13-15, 2010 - Basic Workshop (1 of 2), California Correctional Institute, Tehachapi, CA Contact Diana Couch, 661-942-3025, avpav@aol.com AND August 13-15, 2010 - Basic Workshop (2 of 2), California Correctional Institute, Tehachapi, CA Contact Diana Couch, 661-942-3025, avpav@aol.com September 10-12, 2010 - Basic Workshop, California Correctional Institute, Tehachapi, CA Contact Diana Couch, 661-942-3025, avpav@aol.com AND September 10-12, 2010 - Advanced Workshop, California Correctional Institute, Tehachapi, CA Contact Diana Couch, 661-942-3025, avpav@aol.com October 8-10, 2010 - Basic Workshop, California Correctional Institute, Tehachapi, CA Contact Diana Couch, 661-942-3025, avpav@aol.com AND October 8-10, 2010 - Advanced Workshop, California Correctional Institute, Tehachapi, CA Contact Diana Couch, 661-942-3025, avpav@aol.com November 12-14, 2010 - Basic Workshop, California Correctional Institute, Tehachapi, CA Contact Diana Couch, 661-942-3025, avpav@aol.com AND November 12-14, 2010 - Advanced Workshop, California Correctional Institute, Tehachapi, CA Contact Diana Couch, 661-942-3025, avpav@aol.com December 10-12, 2010 - Basic Workshop, California Correctional Institute, Tehachapi, CA Contact Diana Couch, 661-942-3025, avpav@aol.com AND December 10-12, 2010 - Advanced Workshop, California Correctional Institute, Tehachapi, CA Contact Diana Couch, 661-942-3025, avpav@aol.com

Community participants are allowed to take workshops inside the prison, along with the inmates. The prison requires clearance requests be received and completely processed by them prior to workshops. We ask that requests are sent to us two months prior to the workshop (in order for us to review to make sure all information needed is present, and for the prison to process the clearance). Contact Diana Couch at 661-942-3025 or by email at AVPAV@AOL.COM

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The Lancaster Parole Office is changing the format of their parolee orientation. The orientation will be held every other Wednesday at 1:30pm (until about 3:30pm). Vendors will each have their own table space. Doug and I have been presenting AVP to the parolees for 3 years now. This will give us a better chance to talk one-on-one and invite them to workshops. We are looking for people to help man the booth and answer questions. Call Doug 661-942-3025 if you can help.

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Promotional Items Available:

• Personal DVD player (10" 180°-turning tablet screen, for showing AVP vidoes in 1:1 setting, AC/DC capability).
  
  
• Do you have any promotional materials or items available for use, purchase or sharing (for editing, etc.)...or any related services? Let Doug Couch (AVPAV) know. All facilitators or other interested people are encouraged to use AVP clothing, bumper stickers, magetic automobile signs, AVP stationery, business cards, etc., to help get the word out that we exist.
  
  
• AVP-Antelope Valley has various promotional print design files available in Word, Publisher, PowerPoint and other software (with software available for certain items). These can be edited to suit your own local needs. Flyers, posters, small display items, letterheads, envelopes, business cards, information in various AVP subject areas. If you need an AVP-related web site, let Doug know..."very" inexpensive and easy to do a basic web site to refer people to. See www.avpav.org (this web site) as an example. Contact Doug Couch for details.
  
  
Additional types of AVP-embroidered items will be created in the future. If you would like a shirt or jacket done, let Doug know. (Jackets don't have to be 1-layer, but it's best to use items that are not too thick or multi-layered so they will more readily go into the embroidery hoop.) I may be setting up the embroidery machine at some of the indoor events where we have an AVP table set up...mostly to gain attention to AVP, but perhaps also as a fund-raiser.