Adding Voice – Advoz is Born

Mar 28, 2017 | News

Merger of Center for Community Peacemaking and Conflict Resolution Services unifies dialogue programs

The 14 year-old boy looked down at the floor through most of the dialogue session. Then the others in the room, those he had robbed, asked him, “what do you want to do with your future?” There was a pregnant pause.  He grasped for an answer; he wasn’t prepared for such a question about his life, his purpose.
It’s a scene that plays out again and again in restorative victim-offender dialogue.
After writing the acclaimed Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey later identified a wholly different “eighth habit” that gives people purpose and greatness: finding your voice and helping others find their voice.
Covey’s work, which arose from feedback on his original groundbreaking book, shows a growing understanding that communication and empathy are both moral imperatives and survival skills in our post-industrial economy.
And “voice” has become a central theme of forming Advoz from two dialogue-focused organizations joining. Our name, Advoz, discerned unanimously by more than 20 board and staff members, derives from the Latin and Spanish for “voice,” or “adding voice” to dialogue. And an imperative for “adding voice” shows up again and again in our work:

  • The young offender who is asked about his life vision;
  • The crime victim who gets to be heard by those most involved in the violation;
  • The neighbor listening for the first time to the other side of their dispute;
  • The group that shifts their focus to their talents and vision and away from their weaknesses and divisions.

Add to all this the disempowering political news cycle, and it’s clear: the need for “adding voice” is more pressing than ever, in our personal, professional and community lives.
Your involvement with CCP, CRS and now Advoz, is now playing a growing part in cultivating “purpose and greatness” in Lancaster County and beyond.

Read More from the Advoz Blog

Advoz’s 2018-2019 Annual Report: Core Concentration

Restorative Justice Victim Offender Conferencing cases continue to be about half of Advoz's caseload, primarily referred from Lancaster County's Juvenile Probation and Juvenile Court. Your dollars were a long-term community investment as we concentrated on core...

A Voice of Welcome: Addrienne Whitfield

A Voice of Welcome: Addrienne Whitfield

Advoz has a new friendly voice who could be answering your phone call; Addrienne Whitfield began in September as Advoz’s administrative assistant. She joins the organization from the travel and service industry where she brings extensive customer service experience...

Cutting through the Buzz: Facilitating Summer Learning

Cutting through the Buzz: Facilitating Summer Learning

By Jake Rauchberg There was a buzz in the room. Between my excitement for my first Advoz program and the white noise engulfing the space, I could barely hear myself think. But it wasn’t the sort of buzz that you normally hear when you walk into a church on the...

Peacebuilding across Generations: Elliot Martin

Peacebuilding across Generations: Elliot Martin

By Skyler Gibbon, Advoz Intern Hearing his father’s stories around the dinner table inspired Elliot Martin to get involved with Advoz. “It sounded beautiful. There are really important principles of restorative justice. Needing to address the harm in conflict is...

Spreading Peace Across Generations: Tim Martin

Spreading Peace Across Generations: Tim Martin

By Skyler Gibbon, Advoz Intern Meet Tim and Elliot Martin, a father son duo volunteering with Advoz. After years of conversations about cases around the dinner table, Elliot decided to try it out for himself this spring. He joined the victim offender conferencing...

Calling All Volunteer (Peace Makers)

There are many ways one can contribute their time and skills to this work at Advoz! Calls continue into our office: conflicts, crimes, broken relationships. Can you answer this call for peacemakers in our community? We are looking for volunteers to help community...

Welcome Krista Rittenhouse

Welcome Krista Rittenhouse

Krista Rittenhouse got involved with Advoz training and volunteering in our Restorative Justice Conferencing program this spring. But she went above and beyond the call of duty by successfully reaching out to dozens of people impacted by crime and violations on the...

Making Peace ~ Poetry & Practice

Making Peace ~ Poetry & Practice

Each month, youth and parents have a chance to practice being peacemakers in their own world, family, school, friends, community. It's a class called Making Peace and the youth, often referred by Youth Aid Panels from school fights and other first-time incidents,...