PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — After a student was shot and killed outside of a Providence school, a local non-profit is emphasizing its mantra against violence among the city’s youth.

On Thursday, the Institute for the Study and Practice of Nonviolence and Mentor Rhode Island honored seven young adults whose lives were impacted by violence. They recently completed a 10-month program designed to help at-risk youth forge a path of nonviolence through education on conflict resolution.

According to Institute Director PJ Fox, the program “Let’s Make This Work” teaches nonviolence while also transitioning young adults into finding full-time employment.

“We need to support our young people and what they’re going through and give them some better options for themselves if they choose to take them,” Jo-Ann Schofield of Mentor RI said of the program.

Prior to the celebration, there was a moment of silence for the 15-year-old who was shot and killed near the Providence Career and Technical Academy (PCTA) Wednesday afternoon. The moment of silence also honored all of those who have lost their lives to violence.

The loss of a loved one due to an act of violence is a pain that the young adults being honored unfortunately know all too well.

“I lost my brother, a really close friend of mine,” Andrew Mangru, one of the graduates of the program, said. “It made me want to change my life. He was really young… he was 16. It made me want to change.”

Leaders of the program said they believe it will have a positive impact in the community. This is the program’s second year and they hope to celebrate many more graduations in the future.