Kelly Garcia-Chavez
Justice Advisory Board, ACLU of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM USA
"If you’ve been incarcerated, your path doesn’t define who you are today. It will never define that."
Career Roadmap
Kelly's work combines: Politics, Government, and Upholding a Cause and Belief
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
When I first got out of prison, I felt like I had to hide the fact that I had been incarcerated. I was ashamed of my past. However, I learned that sharing my experience is both important and powerful. When we're advocating for change, people want to hear real stories from people who have been there. I used to be afraid that lawmakers would look down on me when I'd go to the Capitol to speak. Now those lawmakers actively seek me out for advice because they value my experience and insight.
Here's the path I took:
GED
Bachelor's Degree
Psychology
Life & Career Milestones
I've taken a lot of twists and turns
1.
I was sentenced as a juvenile and ultimately spent 18 years in prison.
2.
When I first got to prison, I spent a lot of time in solitary confinement because I kept fighting and getting into trouble.
3.
I finally changed my mindset, hit the books, and earned both my GED and a bachelor’s degree in psychology while in prison.
4.
After realizing the injustices that were happening in prison, I began doing advocacy work from the inside to expose those realities.
5.
I was released in 2014 and completed my parole successfully.
6.
Now I’m involved with Millions for Prisoners and the ACLU of New Mexico to advocate for justices like voting rights for incarcerated people.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Myself:
I can't tell people that I was formerly incarcerated. It's shameful and they'll judge me.
How I responded:
When I first got out of prison, I felt like I had to hide the fact that I had been incarcerated. I was ashamed of my past. However, I learned that sharing my experience is both important and powerful. When we're advocating for change, people want to hear real stories from people who have been there. I used to be afraid that lawmakers would look down on me when I'd go to the Capitol to speak. Now those lawmakers actively seek me out for advice because they value my experience and insight.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
I spent 18 years in prison after being sentenced as a juvenile. A lot of that time was spent in solitary confinement until I changed my mindset, pursued my education, and started doing advocacy work.
Spending so much time in solitary confinement caused me to have mental health issues. We need human contact—when you don't have it, you're affected mentally. I was very depressed. Books and routine kept me sane while in prison.