P.A.V.E. (People Against Violence Enterprises, Inc.) is an organization that is dedicated to paving the way for a more peaceful community for our youth. This organization was founded by Rev. Karl Anderson, a Senior Pastor of Upper Room Ministries in Gainesville, FL. in August of 2000. His purpose was because there was a school shooting occurring every month in different areas in the U.S. at the time (including the Columbine High School massacre in Colorado). Instead of doing a rally of some sort after something happens in his local area, he decided to be proactive and have a rally prior to kids going to back to school to raise the awareness of peace and violence prevention through education for youth and their parents. Every since August 2000, P.A.V.E. has hosted many events in the community that promotes violence prevention education and mediation to our youth and parents in North Central Florida but not limited to. In addition, since this time P.A.V.E. along with their primary sponsor Meridian Behavioral Healthcare has given away around 50,000 backpacks. If you would like to impact your community by forming a PAVE chapter, then let us know by contacting us and we will help you get set up as well.
