In Los Angeles, former gang members are finding a way back to mainstream society by working for Homeboy Industries.
Working as bakers and solar panel installers, at-risk and formerly gang-related youth are given jobs, skills, and a living wage to help them become contributing members of the Los Angeles community.
"Jobs not Jails" is their motto and keeping Angelenos out of crime is what Father Greg Boyle, S.J. based the non-profit on when he began Homeboy Industries in the year of the LA riots.
Seventeen years later his vision has given an alternative to life on the street.
With millions of dollars spent enforcing Los Angeles, Homeboy Industries stands as a testament that the best way to reduce the membership in organized crime is by keeping former gangsters busy and give them the same sense of self-worth. Otherwise there is no incentive to stay away from the luring life of the streets.
But behind every homeboy stands a homegirl.
Homegirl cafe is staffed with 25 women and has a full menu, bringing people of the community in and out of the facility --integrating all Angelenos and furthering the purpose of the mission.
Homegirl cafe is staffed with 25 women and has a full menu, bringing people of the community in and out of the facility --integrating all Angelenos and furthering the purpose of the mission.
It is clear that Father Boyle's method is one the should be adapted to troubled youth who are essentially forgotten and overlooked.
All photos taken from homeboy-industries.org provided by J. Emilio Flores, Lucas Foglio, Glenn Marzano and Cam Sanders.
That is so awesome. I hope people start more organizations like this and create economic opportunity for change in LA. The under serving of people of Los Angeles and the vicious cycle that encourages gang membership can and must be changed. Citizens of Los Angeles are hard-working and in most cases desire to contribute as much as they can. They just need to opportunity to do so as Homeboy Industries has done.
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