HWOP

I am HWOP (Helping With Out Prejudice) a non-profit foundation (501(c)(3) that focuses solely on inmate rehabilitation and education so they may one day in the foreseeable future re-join society. I assist inmates in their quest to improve their lives, by providing support and necessary tools for their successful rehabilitation, reintegration and positive programming which benefits not just the inmates, but their families, prison, staff, and society at large.   HWOP adheres to its founding principles of CUE (Compassion; Understanding; Empathy) in all of us. 

 As a matter of policy, we will only provide support for program curricular needs when our donors and fund-raising campaigns empower us to oblige these requests from the group leaders. HWOP will follow all CDCR protocols for donations. 

Art Credit: Reuben Radillo (paroled 2020); Copyright HWOP

 As I raise my head high and count my daily blessings in life, I feel immense gratitude for the many men at R.J. Donovan Correctional Facility (San Diego), who have in their own way helped me grow. I am the Prison Coordinator for Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP) at Donovan and have had the pleasure of meeting some very compassionate, kind and self-aware individuals who have taught me so much over the past 28 years. The idea for HWOP foundation took root with the innate goal of helping them seek better pathways as they navigate their lives, with sentences of Life With Out Parole (LWOP), or varying years of incarceration. I am much obliged that you are perusing my site and making HWOP a part of your day, thank you— Chandrika Kelso  

This foundation was created in June 2019, and is dedicated to my mother (Late) Laxmi V. Maragani, an amazing lady who conducted her life with dignity, decorum and grace. She believed in the power of forgiveness and kindness, she was a magnanimous spirit who was incapable of holding grudges! The foundation’s name captures my mother’s altruistic and forgiving spirit: Helping WithOut Prejudice. 

The Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP), presents conflict management skills that can enable individuals to build successful interpersonal interactions, gain insight into themselves, and find new and positive approaches to their lives.  The fundamental belief of AVP is that there is a power for peace and good in everyone, and that this power has the ability to transform violence. AVP builds on a spiritual base of respect and caring for self and others, working both in prisons and with groups in the community. This picture is from one of our AVP workshops at RJDCF-Echo yard. The leaders for the various programs under HWOP sponsorship  are also trained AVP facilitators. So I have the honour and pleasure of working with these individuals in both capacities of AVP and HWOP.

Photo: AVP workshop/2024/Echo