HOPE-HOWSE

HOPE-HOWSE article continued from previous page

Jane sees others, not as their crimes or deeds or other labels, but as human beings. She offers her love and support, but encourages accountability for actions performed. She brings dignity to prisoners and gang kids by validating their humanness and letting them know that, while she does not condone their acts of violence, she loves them as human beings unconditionally and sees the spark of good in them that we all possess. Many of these kids and adults have lived their entire lives with the pain of childhood abuse and have not worked through their rage and recovery.

Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, Professor Emeritus of Religion, Temple University; founder of the Alliance for Jewish Renewal; and author of many books on Jewish spirituality, says of Jane, “I was recently made aware of the great Mitzvah (good deeds) work of Jane Davis and HOPE-HOWSE... Each time a compassionate act for a prisoner is made, the chances of recidivism are reduced. It becomes not only a societal form of Tikkun Olam (healing the earth) but also one of real personal rehabilitation. Jane walks in the human spirit where few dare to go.”

An inmate serving time for a sexual crime recently wrote to Jane, “You touched me! You told me that I am a beautiful man, full of love, and that 'WE' had a lot of work to do. Thank you for those words.”

The HOPE-HOWSE logo shows how to put the principles of HOPE-HOWSE into action. The eye represents the action of looking deeply into your self, your soul, with rigorous honesty, not at others, but always looking inward. This is painful and challenging because it demands us to be fully present in every moment and every action. It demands our accountability and responsibility in ways that may not make sense. Inside is where most people hide their secrets and harbor the dark energies of shame, desire, guilt, and fear. The violent side will bring you face-to-face with any abuse - emotional, physical, verbal, or sexual that you have experienced, either as giver or receiver. This level of self-honesty will bring you right up against your feelings of shame, rage, sadness, and fear, things we often want to avoid feeling, but that drive us to act in delusive, harmful ways. This process allows you to go into yourself and come to terms with the deepest parts of your soul.

HOPE-HOWSE article continued next page, click here!