🟦Nonviolence in Action: What It Takes to Prevent Violence
Introduction: Organizations working to prevent violence, respond to harm, and build safer ways to live together.
This is the Introduction to a series on Violence Prevention and Community Safety. See the list below of current and future guides.
A domestic violence call ends in tragedy.
A teenager is shot in a neighborhood dispute.
An election worker gets threats for doing their job.
These stories are usually covered on different beats—crime, education, politics, for example. Each comes with its own facts and debate.
This series highlights organizations working across these and other issues. Some respond after violence occurs. Others work to prevent it. Many do both. Their goal is to reduce violence over time and replace weak systems with stronger ones.
Their work includes protecting survivors, holding offenders accountable, and building safer communities through education, intervention, and policy change. Some approach violence as a public health issue. Others focus on civil rights or justice reform. Many use mediation, restorative justice, and nonviolent communication to resolve conflict before it escalates.
Taken together, these efforts reflect a simple idea: Enforcement matters, but it is not enough. Reducing violence also depends on better systems, stronger communities, and earlier intervention.
The resources in this series include national and local organizations offering research, legal advocacy, crisis support, training, and practical ways for people to get involved. Some focus on specific forms of violence. Others work across several areas. All offer ways for individuals to support safer, more just communities.
Guides to Violence Prevention and Community Safety:
Family Violence, Sexual Violence, and Abuse of Vulnerable People—coming soon
Youth and Community Violence—coming soon
Policing, Custody, and State Violence—coming soon
Each guide highlights organizations, key issues, and ways to take action. The aim is practical: to help readers understand the landscape and find meaningful ways to be part of the solution.
Related Guides
Confronting Hate, Extremism, and Authoritarianism—in the Rights and Freedoms section
A ranked guide to organizations working to expose, resist, and prevent movements that threaten civil rights, human dignity, and democratic norms.
Inclusive Language—in the Clear Writing section
Writing that respects people and makes meaning clear