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Invest in our children

Sep 17, 2009

Mayor Cicilline and the City of Providence are continuing to invest in children by providing American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds for The Institute for the Study and Practice of Nonviolence.

Today, Mayor Cicilline personally welcomed the 10 new Streetworkers as they prepare to head out into the community to save lives.  Streetworkers havevaluable street knowledge that allows them to relate to kids and prevent conflicts and retaliation. They also serve as mentors to high risk youth.

“The Streetworkers, under the extraordinary leadership of Teny Gross, have had a significant impact on crime reduction in our neighborhoods,” said Mayor Cicilline.  “There’s no question, these young people are saving lives and giving countless children hope.”

“Mayor Cicilline has been an integral part of helping the Institute get where it is today. From day one, he has been a supporter of making Providence safe for our kids and future generations. We couldn’t do our work without him,” said Teny Gross, Executive Director, Institute for the Study and Practice of Nonviolence.

The new Streetworker positions are being partially funded through an AARA U.S. Justice Department grant received by the Providence Police Department. 

In preparation for their role as mentors and peace ambassadors, the Streetworkers
underwent three days of intense training. They touched on important topics like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s six steps and principles of nonviolence, crisis management, creating healthy and successful young people and much more.


“These skills are important for all Streetworkers. We are equipping them with the tools that they’ll need when they are out in the community and in the streets,” said Ajay Benton, Streetworkers Program Manager.

The new Streetworkers reflect their community, and in many cases work in the neighborhoods where they grew up. The Streetworkers are helping young people avoid bad choices. They are all working towards making a positive difference in the lives of youth.