Brothers, Can We Talk?: An Anti-Violence Ventures Project

Community safety

South LA West LA Gateway Cities South Bay Long Beach Central LA East LA San Gabriel Valley San Fernando Valley Antelope Valley

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

Violence in Black communities is often approached through narrow frameworks that exclude Black men/boys. Nearly 40% of men report experiencing physical or sexual harm by a partner, yet are rarely centered in prevention efforts. This silence contributes to cycles of trauma. Anti-Violence Ventures (AVV) fills this gap by engaging Black men and boys through culturally rooted, trauma-informed programs like Brothers, Can We Talk healing circles and our Youth Advocate Training Program, building leadership and emotional intelligence. Our project moves beyond traditional narratives and norms: (“women-centered domestic violence,” “male-centered street violence,” and the silence on family violence –“what happens at home stays at home”) inspiring new ways of thinking that bridge the chasms between the forms of violence that are prevalent in Black relationships, homes, and neighborhoods.

AVV engages Black men/boys in gender-based violence prevention through education, advocacy training, healing circles, and outreach. Our “Brothers, Can We Talk” Circles includes culturally relevant and rooted mentorship. AVV is a Community-Defined Evidence Practice (CDEP) that is culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and innovative in centering Black men/ boys. AVV challenges outdated narratives that isolate domestic, street, and family violence, offering instead a unified and inclusive model. By creating spaces where Black men and boys are seen, heard, and equipped, we lay the groundwork for true community healing.
With funding from LA2050, we will continue hosting our healing circles. AVV uses a hybrid delivery model that includes in-person and virtual workshops to ensure accessibility across LA County. Programs are hosted in familiar community spaces like churches, barbershops, recreation centers, schools, and open venues provided by partners like Chase Bank.
Our programming is strengthened by long-standing partnerships with The Good Word Foundation, Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo, and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., enabling us to provide our circles in trusted spaces with trusted friends and collaborators. We create an intriguing, supportive and growth-driven community gathering space to reach the 40% of men who are victims of gender-based violence.

Evidence from programmatic evaluations shows strong interest in the expansion of our Black male-centered, safe and affirming talk and healing circles. Through cultural and gender-sensitive engagement, facilitated support, calls-to-action, and violence prevention education, we reinforce new norms and sustain safe spaces where Black men/boys can be heard, seen, empowered, and informed. With funding, we will host minimally 4 of our signature “Brothers, Can We Talk” Circles, expanding conversation on their experiences, intersection and prevention of domestic, family, and community violence. The benefit lies in the value of our approach to foster safety, challenge harmful norms and assumptions that Black men and boys do not and will not talk about violence and violence prevention, and promote accountability. Black males and females benefit when the experiences, voices, and activism of Black men/boys are integrated into the gender-based violence prevention and intervention movements.