United Neighbors of Fall River is one of 22 Community Connection Coalitions funded throughout the state of Massachusetts through the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families. United Neighbors is committed to promoting a strong, healthy and safe community. We are invested in our community and develop and assist in projects and events that strengthen and build on the community. Our work is reflective of the needs of the community. Our projects include violence prevention, connecting the community, foster care, parent advocacy and so much more.
On March 27, 2010, the Violence Prevention Task Force will be holding its Second Annual Peace by Piece Summit. This year the summit will be held at Kuss Middle School, 53 Globe Mills Avenue. Members of the Peaceful Coalition will be featured as the Keynote speakers. Throughout the day there will be workshops that will help us learn to promote a more peaceful community and develop and implement strategies, programs and policies that address the issues of violence prevention in our community.
February is coming to an end, which means the 2nd Annual Peace by Piece Summit is about a month away. This year the summit will take place at the new Kuss Middle School on Saturday, March 27, 2010 10am-3pm. A huge addition to the efforts to create a Peaceful Fall River is the Peace Pole Project. Currently, there are a few Peace Pole within the city, but United Neigbors and the Violence Prevention Task Force would ideally like to see Peace Poles at every school, organization, and any where will to have one. The first Peace Pole through this effort will be planted by Mayor Will Flanagan at a Press Conference on Wednesday, March 3, 2010 at 2:30pm at City Hall.
On Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010, Mayor Flanagan unveiled the first Peace Pole as a part of the Violence Prevention Task Force Peace Pole Project. Mayor Flanagan held a press conference to present the Peace Pole to the city. Wendy Garf-Lipp, United Neighbors of Fall River Executive Director, spoke about the visual reminders that the Peace Pole will create. Christian McCloskey, Youth Services Coordinator, was also in attendance to speak about the upcoming Peace by Piece Summit. The summit brings together over 20 organizations within the city with the goal of promoting peace. There will 7 different workshops informing attendants how to promote peace and deal with various types of violence that they may encounter throughout their lives.
With all the hullababaloo surounding the upcoming Peace by Piece summit, we're interested to know what you're doing to make Fall River a more peaceful place. Acts of peace can be as simple and doable as saying "thank you" to someone who does you a service. They can also be as complicated as letting go of a long standing grudge. 
Domestic VIolence is not a private matter- it is violence that requires a community response to assist victims who are reluctant to come forward. This workshop will highligh the warning signs of an abusive relationship, how to identify and report abuse, and how to leave an abusive relationship. This workshop will also go over the prosecution method of domestic violence cases, the rights of the victim and how to access valuable resources in the community.
