Penn Anti-Violence Education (PAVE)

PAVE delivers peer-led educational programming to groups interested in addressing sexual and relationship violence in their communities, including those who are required to complete sexual violence prevention education (such as Greek organizations, athletics teams, and student organizations). Since the program started in 2016, PAVE has quadrupled its impact, reaching over 3,000 undergraduate students with over 70 programs in 2023-2024. 

These programs include Consent Circles, PVP’s program for incoming undergraduates during NSO, and year-round interactive workshops on consent and bystander intervention. PAVE has provided sexual violence prevention education to culturally specific student associations, fraternity and sorority organizations, academic and political societies, clubs, college house staff, student athletes, and more.

All PAVE workshops educate and mobilize Penn students to take action that prevents harm and build healthy relationships. Each workshop is 90 minutes long, and typically cofacilitated by two peer educators. These sessions are highly participatory: we ask attendees to engage actively, bringing knowledge and skills from their own experiences, so as to tailor each session to each unique community. Through this, we support participants in coming up with real-world solutions to the issues of sexual and relationship violence in their respective groups and on campus at large. Each PAVE workshop follows roughly the same structure:

• Opening: educators will introduce the topic and set guidelines for engagement in the session
• Basics: Outlining the components of the topics and any skills/strategies involved in practice it
• Application: Using scenarios, practice applying what’s been learned. This includes ample time for discussion, questions, and brainstorming together. 
• Closing: educators will share information on the confidential resources available to people impacted by sexual and relationship violence at Penn

Peer educators are leaders who come from the communities they educate within, and as such, are uniquely positioned to educate and motivate their fellow community members to intervene on the issues they face. At Penn, PAVE educators receive specialized training in consent skills, facilitation, sexual and relationship violence recognition and response, and intervening on interpersonal and systemic harm. PAVE educators recognize that violence is a societal issue in need of community based solutions, and they work to cultivate an understanding of the systems of oppression that shape experiences of interpersonal violence.

We’re so glad you’re interested! Here’s some basics about the peer educator role:

• PAVE educators are employed by PVP as student workers. We typically hire in March/April for positions that begin the upcoming academic year. 
• Candidates must be able to attend training (which consists of 4 all-day sessions the week before classes begin) as well as biweekly meetings year-round. PAVE educators’ main job responsibility is leading Consent Circles (a one-time consent program the Friday before classes begin) and workshops year round (at least once per month). All together, this amounts to a minimum commitment 5 hours per month. All work including training is paid at $15/hour.
• Undergraduate students of all gender identities, sexual orientations, countries of origin, races, ethnicities, and abilities are encouraged to apply. No prior experience or training is required to apply. Applicants do not need to have a work study award to be eligible for the position. 

Interested in being notified when applications open for PAVE? Email trizzo@upenn.edu!