Update on AVP annual training

Hey fierce fighters and tender hearts,

First, AVP wants to thank all of you for the amazing work that you have been a part of so far this year and all of the ways you continue to bring your compassion, care, and resistance into the community.

AVP’s range of services continues to grow as we move into the coming year. Our on-going desire to learn, unlearn, grow, and change in relation to the needs and desires of the on-campus and off-campus community is a consistent and exciting priority. Part of this process involves the development of structure within the organization in order to continue to provide services sustainably for folks seeking support and also for our staff.

These exciting processes of structure building are going to be one of the main focuses that AVP will take in the coming year, and as such we have come to the decision to post-pone our annual volunteer training until the fall of 2016.

The volunteer training program is extensive and involves a number of events during which staff and new volunteers come together to build community, (un)learn, and grow the organization and those within it. This process is invaluable and vital in support service organizations, and it was not an easy or light decision to go without it this year.

If any of you are interested in volunteering with us (who haven’t gone through the volunteer training program) before the fall of 2016, we will be offering short training sessions that will equip folks with the information to provide less intensive though vital contributions (e.g., administration tasks, crafting/button making, etc.). We also ask that you take a Consent Workshop prior to volunteering, but you can definitely check out a button-making session before you take the Consent Workshop if you want to get a sense of what it feels like to engage with us. And if you’re wondering – our training is open to volunteers of all genders!

Orientations will be held January 21st, February 22nd, and March 3rd. If this is of interest to you, please contact Alex or Charity at to confirm your attendance and timing for the day.

We cannot not convey the amount of gratitude and tender feels we have about being a part of your community, and the ways you continue to show us what it means to support, resist, and love. We look forward to working with all of you, and can’t wait to see what the new year brings. Happy Solstice folks!

In care and community,
The AVP team.