SMITHIFIELD — Employees of Fidelity Investments, joined by Providence high school students and volunteers from the Institute for the Study & Practice of Nonviolence and organizers of WaterFire, plan today to wrap up a three-month effort to create 6,000 origami cranes to be distributed at the WaterFire event scheduled for Saturday in Providence.

The paper cranes, which symbolize peace, fidelity and longevity, have been associated with WaterFire since Fidelity began sponsoring the event in 2003.

This year things will be a little bit different, Fidelity spokesman Keith Marshall said yesterday.

Marshall noted that Providence has just tallied its ninth homicide of the year. He said “streetworkers” — volunteers from the Institute — will mill with the crowd at WaterFire, pass out the cranes and “urge peace.”

“These are former gang members who have turned their lives around and are on the street working with youths to curb violence,” Marshall said. “They just want be more visible, to show that they are still around, and will keep doing what they are doing and encourage other people to choose peace.”

The Institute is a partner this year in sponsoring the WaterFire presentation.

Marshall said the student volunteers will teach visitors how to fold cranes at the Origami Peace Crane Folding Tent from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at College and South Main streets. There will be a special “luminaria ceremony” near Memorial Park at 8:30 p.m. to celebrate peace.

The Institute for the Study & Practice of Nonviolence teaches by word and example the principles and practices of nonviolence, and fosters a community that addresses potentially violent situations with nonviolent solutions. The institute has helped lower violent crimes in Providence by 50 percent, Fidelity said, particularly youth violence; and in 2006, the institute, was named a “best practice” by the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

tmorgan@projo.com