Meeting Needs: Alternatives to Violence

Alternatives To Violence (ATV) was launched to respond to rising violence in Charlotte, but its presence has grown into something even more deeply embedded in community life. “We meet a lot of people in the community who tell us about the daily things they need” said Program Manager Donnell Gardner. Turning the office into a community closet and resource center, the ATV team has coordinated community response and donations to provide families access to clothing, food, household items, internet, and even a bicycle program for kids. What began as a focused effort to reduce violence has grown into something far more expansive. The work of ATV is proof that when community-rooted solutions take hold, they create ripples—ones that extend beyond the original goal and into the daily lives of residents