Creative Interventions (CI) started in 2004 in Oakland as a national resource center to create and promote community-based interventions to interpersonal violence. Its founders worked with survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault for many years but found limitations in the U.S. approach to working with violence. CI was established as one way in which its founders could use their experiences and knowledge to equip everyday people to confront, challenge and overcome violence.
For CI, the community-based approach is one in which everyday people such as family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, members of community organizations such as faith institutions, civic organizations or businesses are the people who take action to intervene in violence.
"If you are reading this, it is likely that your life or that of someone you care about has been impacted by interpersonal violence – domestic violence, sexual abuse or assault or family violence. Perhaps you are in a crisis and you're not sure what to do, but you feel an urgent need to do something. Or maybe you have been trying to address a situation of violence, but you need some more ideas and resources on what to do. Perhaps you hear about this Toolkit because you are seeking safety, but calling the police is not a safe option for you. You may be reading this because you have been abusive or violent and are looking for support on how to change.
This Toolkit helps us figure out what steps we can take to address, reduce, end or even prevent violence - what we can violence intervention."
The Toolkit is available in multiple languages, as well as both a downloadable PDF and an interactive web version.
