John Joseph (of the Cro-Mags band) invited KD to lead chanting to 12 parolees as part of his ’30 to Life Challenge’ at the non-profit Amity Foundation in Los Angeles. They have a program which provides housing and healing techniques to inmates who have been incarcerated and are now paroled after doing very long prison sentences.
The aim of the challenge for this focus group of 12 male parolees who have signed on to the ‘30 to Life Challenge’ is that once they change the paradigm of the prison parole system – treat these souls with love and compassion and offer them life-changing skills they will do a complete 180 and stay out of prison for the rest of their lives.
The candidates are put through intensive work shops in the 30 day period consisting of physical training, yoga, meditation, breath work, community service, job development skills and much more, all while adhering to a 100% plant-based diet.
For John personally, as a former inmate, drug addict and now Vaisnava), he feels that what has worked for him, Bhakti Yoga, Japa and Bhajan meditation can also help these men tremendously.
-
- KD with John Joseph
-
- Kirtan with parolees
-
- Nina Rao with John Joseph
John Joseph shared a few words about his effort:
“The Documentary “30 To Life” – has partnered up with the non-profit Amity Foundation in Los Angeles. They have a program which provides housing and healing techniques to inmates who have been incarcerated and are now paroled after doing very long prison sentences.
My belief and the belief of all involved i.e. mentors and director Kip Anderson of Aum Pictures, non-profit production company (makers of “Cowspiracy” and “What the Health”) is that until a person changes from within they can never truly heal and change their karma. The recidivism rates of released inmates in California and across America are astronomical. We aim to prove with our focus group of 12 male parolees who have signed on to the 30 to Life Challenge that once we change the paradigm of the prison parole system, in other words, when we treat these souls with love and compassion and offer them life-changing skills they will do a complete 180 and stay out of prison for the rest of their lives.
We put the candidates through intensive work shops in the 30 day period consisting of physical training, yoga, meditation, breath work, community service, job development skills and much more, all while adhering to a 100% plant-based diet. I also feel (as a former inmate, drug addict and now Vaisnava that what has worked for me – Bhakti Yoga, Japa and Bhajan meditation can also help these men tremendously. And so I’m reaching out to ask Krishna Das to participate in the documentary by lending his amazing devotional voice and knowledge of the spiritual sound vibrations.”
John, your an amazing dude, keep it up. Im going plant base at 46 years and its changing everything for me from within. Thanks for the inspiration. Jah lives ya!!