Shakti Tribe Foundation
The Shakti Tribe Foundation is a program of International Humanities Center, a nonprofit organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code.
Opening Hearts and Changing Lives with the Transformational Peace Programs of Larisa Stow & Shakti Tribe
In January 2007, Shakti Tribe entered a women’s jail in Lynwood, California to give a concert for about 200 inmates. What transpired during that short two hours changed their lives forever. Upon witnessing the transformational power to create peace in these women through their music and messages, a mission to inspire all people that find themselves at a crossroads to connect to their own spirit was born. By June 2007, the group had formed their own non-profit Shakti Tribe Foundation to help raise funds and awareness, and to expand this important work in prisons, jails, juvenile detention centers, recovery centers and halfway houses.
Today, Shakti Tribe Foundation programs in facilities include Peace Concerts & Workshops. Using their music as a foundation, Larisa & the band weave in the concepts of personal value, responsibility and peace through teaching the power of mantra practice, yoga, and meditation. Workshops expand on these concepts, and specific tools are taught in a focused setting for greater retention and success.
Peace Concert Programs now often incorporate empowering leaders and speakers to inspire and create positive connections in surrounding communities.
We know that wherever facilities offer programs to rehabilitate, inspire and transform those who are incarcerated, the rate of recidivism is greatly reduced. With well over 50% of adults incarcerated being parents to minor children, these positive transformations have a lasting and long term effect on our society.
Almost every person currently incarcerated will be release into society at some point in the future… who do you want them to be in the world, when they DO get out?
“Believe it or not, your concert was a powerful catalyst for my transformative process…your work is important and it does bear fruit. Please pass along my love, respect and gratitude to the band.” — letter from a former inmate
“Some of the men came and wept and said that your music has changed their lives to touch the depths of their souls.” — email from a prison counselor at Terminal Island Federal Prison
“First and foremost I want to say thank you for taking the time to come up to the camp and bless us with your music performances. I honestly enjoyed it. I thought that the music was played well and was pretty catchy. I also liked the fact that you guys talked about real life things and how are lives are molded around our thoughts, peers, surroundings and beliefs. My eyes were really opened in a new way during the concert. I myself have some pretty ambitious dreams and your words led me to believe that if I believe in myself I can make them a reality. Once again thank you for coming to share your precious time with us.” — letter from a teen at Los Prietos Boys Camp