Rehabilitation

Chaka Khan inspires during CIW graduation

Singer Chaka Khan speaks to a gathering at California Institution for Women (CIW) in late July.
Chaka Khan speaks at CIW July 29.

Project Transcendence held a graduation at California Institution for Women (CIW) featuring a question-and-answer session with singer Chaka Khan.

Group of women sitting in a circle in a female prison.
Chaka Khan sits with CIW participants in Project Transcendence.

Project Transcendence is a partnership between the Chaka Khan Foundation and David Lynch Foundation-LA, offering a five-day transcendental meditation program for incarcerated women.

The graduation recognized the hard work of 10 incarcerated participants. After the graduation, Khan opened it up to a question-and-answer session for roughly 200 incarcerated individuals.

Khan is an American singer, songwriter, and musician, known for her powerful voice and a wide-ranging career spanning several decades.

Born in 1953 in Chicago, she first gained fame as the lead vocalist of the funk band Rufus in the 1970s. The group is best known for hits like “Tell Me Something Good” and “Ain’t Nobody.”

She then launched a successful solo career, producing numerous hits including “I’m Every Woman,” “Through the Fire,” and “I Feel for You.” She is often referred to as the “Queen of Funk” and has won multiple Grammy Awards for her work.

In addition to her music career, she has been involved in various philanthropic efforts, speaking out on issues such as addiction and mental health.

Submitted by Delinia Lewis, associate warden
Custody Operations, Housing and Program Services

and Ricky Dela Cruz, community resources manager
California Institution for Women


Read more rehabilitation stories.

Follow CDCR on YouTubeFacebookX (formerly Twitter). Listen to the CDCR Unlocked podcast.

Related content

Photo of Brandi Holmes, a former Female Community Reentry Program (FCRP) participant who is now back in her community on supervised release after finding rehabilitation success through the program.

Brandi Holmes finds FCRP rehabilitation success

Brandi Holmes started her journey toward rehabilitation at CDCR 14 years ago when she was incarcerated at 22 years old.…

Salinas Valley State Prison staff members participate in the first Cancer Awareness Walk held July 2-3 at the prison in Soledad, California.

Salinas Valley State Prison hosts first Cancer Awareness Walk

Salinas Valley State Prison in Soledad proudly hosted its first-ever Cancer Awareness Walk for staff and the incarcerated population. The…

An incarcerated person works on a bike at Folsom State Prison.

Watch: Folsom bike program changes lives

Bicycles are changing lives inside and outside the walls of Folsom State Prison thanks to the bike program. “They bring…

A correctional officer shakes hands with an incarcerated student who received his forestry degree from Lake Tahoe Community College's Rising Scholars Program.

In historic first, 8 incarcerated students earn forestry degrees

For the first time in the state, eight incarcerated students have earned associate of science degrees in forestry, marking the…

A wolf looks out over a group of women from a reentry program.

Women in reentry program learn life lessons from wolves

Two dozen women in a reentry program recently completed a transformative 12-week journey, culminating in a profound day of connecting…

An incarcerated basketball player throws the ball during a tournament at California Institution for Men, or CIM, in Chino

Rebound: CIM basketball tournament inspires recovery

California Institution for Men (CIM) at Chino recently held an interfacility basketball tournament, demonstrating rehabilitation through sports. “The groups that…