Homeboy Industries is a youth program founded in 1992 by Father Greg Boyle, S.J. following the work of the Christian base communities at Dolores Mission Church. The program is intended to assist high-risk youth, former gang members and the recently incarcerated with a variety of free programs, such as mental health counseling, legal services, tattoo removal, curriculum and education classes, work-readiness training, and employment services. A distinctive aspect of Homeboy Industries is its structure of a multifaceted social enterprise and social business. This helps young people who were former gang members and former inmates to have an opportunity to acquire job skills and seek employment in a safe, supportive environment. Among the businesses are the Homeboy Bakery, Homegirl Café & Catering, Homeboy/Girl Merchandise, Homeboy Farmers Markets, The Homeboy Diner at City Hall, Homeboy Silkscreen & Embroidery, Homeboy Grocery, and Homeboy Cafe & Bakery in the American Airlines terminal at Los Angeles International Airport.
Video Homeboy Industries
History
Homeboy Industries began in 1988 as a job training program (called Jobs for a Future) out of Dolores Mission Parish in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, California, USA. It was created by then-pastor Greg Boyle, S.J. to offer an alternative to gang life for high-risk youth, who were living in a city (Los Angeles) with the highest concentration of gang activity in the country. In those early days, Boyle found sympathetic businesses that agreed to hire recovering gang members.
In 1992, an abandoned warehouse was converted into the first business, Homeboy Bakery, to create more opportunities for employment. The Bakery started off producing tortillas and eventually received a contract for baking bread. Eventually more businesses were added, and in 2001, Homeboy Industries became an independent non-profit.
Dolores Mission Alternative School was created to offer high school drop outs a chance for a diploma. In 2010, Learning Works became the new high school. There are currently 75 students enrolled, and in 2012 enrollment is expected to reach 105.
In October 2007, Homeboy Industries opened a new $8.5 million headquarters at the Fran and Ray Stark building, in a gang-neutral downtown location.
In addition to jobs, Homeboy Industries offers training in anger management, domestic violence, yoga, spiritual development, parenting, substance abuse, budgeting, art and other areas of self-development. In addition, they offer free mental health counseling, tattoo removal, legal services, job development and case management.
One of Homeboy's most successful programs is free tattoo removal. Young people who find that tattoos inhibit their ability to secure employment can receive treatments on site at Homeboy's center in Downtown Los Angeles, California, USA. Though tattoo removal by laser is known to be painful and takes an average of eight to ten treatments per tattoo, and in some cases up to 1 year to complete, patient retention is virtually 100%. The clinic completes about 560 treatments per month.
Homeboy Industries faced financial difficulties in 2010, but the organization has reached a strong point in 2011 and is seeing more clients than ever before. New developments in 2010 and 2011 included the launch of Homeboy Tortilla Strips and Salsa in Ralphs stores across California, and the expansion of the Homeboy social enterprises with the Homeboy Diner at City Hall and Homeboy Farmers Markets. The title of Fr. Boyle's memoir, Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion reflects Father Boyle's unwavering focus in helping gang members walk a new path.
Homeboy currently employs between 200-235 high-risk, formerly gang-involved, and recently incarcerated youth in its six social enterprises and headquarters, though the free services (from tattoo removal to Baby and Me class) are utilized by more than 10,000 community members a year.
In 2014, the Global Homeboy Network was founded to work with other organizations to provide similar programs and the social enterprise employment structure across the globe. Father Greg hopes organizations will not duplicate Homeboy Industries, but seek to creating a community and a place of welcome to those in trouble.
According to its annual budget, Homeboy Industries receives government support from the Department of Labor and the City of L.A.'s Gang Reduction Youth Development program. The nonprofit also receives donations from corporations and individuals to fund trainee compensation, programs, fundraising, administration and businesses. The annual budget is around $14.7 million dollars, where 25% of the revenue is utilized to sustain all the free services and programs for young adults who have recently left prison.
Maps Homeboy Industries
Recognition and awards
A documentary titled Father G. and the Homeboys was released in 2007.
Homeboy Industries made its first foray into the mainstream market with its salsa being sold at Ralphs Supermarket.
In 2007, Boyle appeared in an episode of MTV's True Life, which followed an employee of Homeboy Industries named Dennis.
Boyle and Homeboy Industries were awarded in the humanitarian category by of the 10th Annual Bon Appétit Awards in September 2007.
Members of Homeboy Industries were also shown in the music video for Daughtry's "What About Now" in July 2008.
Boyle was inducted into the California Hall of Fame in December 2011.
The 2017 Laetare Medal, a prestigious annual award given by the University of Notre Dame to an American Catholic, was awarded to Boyle.
Criticism
Boyle and Homeboy Industries has received criticism, especially from law enforcement in Los Angeles. Accusations of glorifying gang life and harboring criminals have been made in the past.
However, many law enforcement and government officials, including Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca, LAPD Chief Charlie Beck, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and former First Lady Laura Bush have praised Homeboy Industries' success.
References
Additional reading
- Boyle, Gregory (2010). Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion. Free Press. ISBN 978-1-4391-5302-4.
- Flores, Edward O (2014). God's Gangs: Barrio Ministry, Masculinity and Gang Recovery. New York University Press. ISBN 978-1479878123.
- Fremon, Celeste; Brokaw, Tom (2004). G-Dog and the Homeboys: Father Greg Boyle and the Gangs of East Los Angeles. University of New Mexico Press. ISBN 978-0-8263-3536-4.
- Wirth, Eileen (2007). They Made All the Difference: Life-changing Stories from Jesuit High Schools. Loyola Press. ISBN 978-0-8294-2168-2.
- Siegel, Larry J; Welch, Brandon C (2008). Juvenile Delinquency: Theory, Practice, and Law. Wadsworth Publishing. ISBN 978-0-495-50364-4.
- Kurato, Donald F (2008). Entrepreneurship: Theory, Process, and Practice. South-Western College Pub. ISBN 978-0-324-59091-3.
- Rodriguez, Luis (2003). Hearts and Hands: Creating Community in Violent Times. Seven Stories Press. ISBN 978-1-58322-564-6.
- Geeseman, Peggy L; Hall, Linda D (2008). Brands and Their Companies: Consumer Products and Their Manufacturers With Addresses and Phone Numbers. Gale Cengage. ISBN 978-0-7876-9990-1.
- Leitner, Helga; Peck, Jamie; Sheppard, Eric (2006). Contesting Neoliberalism: Urban Frontiers. The Guilford Press. ISBN 978-1-59385-320-4.
- Leap, Jorja (2012). Jumped In: What Gangs Taught Me About Violence, Love, Drugs, and Redemption. Beacon Press. ISBN 978-0-8070-4456-8.
External links
- El padre y los homies an audio documentary about Father Boyle and Homeboy Industries
- Homeboyz Interactive, a similar program in Milwaukee that followed.
Source of article : Wikipedia
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