Goals

Our first goal is to listen -- carefully, respectfully, empathetically and without judgment -- to people who have lost loved ones, or other significant people in their lives, to violent crime or state execution. We also want to listen to the many other people whose work, or other circumstances, have brought them into close contact with the investigation, prosecution, defense, appeals, or other aspects of capital punishment. We believe that these voices, and these stories, deserve our close attention. Listening and being listened to are powerful and empowering activities that create shared power. Oral histories bring new and deeper understanding of ourselves and our fellow human beings.

Our second goal is to share the stories we receive with as many people as possible to increase understanding, empathy, and more constructive conversations about how to best prevent and respond to violence in our communities. How? One, by posting interviews right here on our website; two, by making the interviews available to public libraries, non-commercial educational institutions, non-commercial community groups, non-profit organizations, and people organized for social change; three, by speaking to classes, community groups; and four, by teaching and training. When? The interviews will be made public as the interview narrators decide -- not a day before. Some people make their stories available right away. Many wish to wait until they have reviewed the recordings and transcripts of their interviews. And some will only want to release the material in years to come. We will honor any of these wishes. We are creating a public, historical archive for all interviews. All interviews will go into the archive, although some will be available immediately and others will not be released for years. Our goal is that everyone -- now and in future decades - may learn from the experiences of people most directly affected by violent crime and the death penalty.

A third goal is to creatively develop resources that prevent violence (of all kinds) in Texas and promote individual and social healing from its effects.

Fourth, we welcome fresh ideas, innovation, and youth leadership. We try to open ourselves to new ideas and ways of thinking about the future as we work. Leadership of the Texas After Violence Project includes people in their teens and twenties as well as people ranging in age from their thirties through their sixties. We mentor and teach each other across generations.

While we envision and seek a future substantially different from our present, the Texas After Violence Project is not an advocacy project; we do not have a specific agenda; we do not possess any "answers."

We invite you to join us.

Contributions to the Texas After Violence Project are tax-deductible; the IRS has determined that the organization is a public charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.