While some Jesuits specialize in religion and philosophy, Fr. Gregory J. Boyle, S.J. “is an acknowledged expert on gangs, intervention and re-entry.”
Boyle is the founder of Homeboy Industries, a collection of enterprises in Los Angeles that allows former gang members to work alongside one another and gain experience in the work force.
He spoke to students in the Ignatian Residential College on April 3 about his experiences with some of his “homies.”
Homeboy Bakery became Boyle’s first endeavor in 1992, and the success of this program led to the development of Homeboy Diner, Homeboy Farmers Markets, Homeboy Silkscreen & Embroidery, Homeboy/Homegirl Merchandise and Homegirl Café & Catering.
Homegirl Café features “waitresses with attitude.” Boyle remembers one of the waitresses, Glinda, approaching Diane Keaton in the store and saying that she recognized her from somewhere. Glinda finally made a connection, and knowingly turned to Keaton to say, “We were locked up together.”
While these enterprises offer former gang members with employment and income, the nonprofit also offers tattoo removal, parenting classes and yoga and dance classes that are always packed and have a waiting list. The “Baby and Me” classes are so popular that some of the homies ask Boyle if they can participate even if they don’t have a child.
Of the 85,000 gang members in Los Angeles County, many rival members must work side by side at their jobs. Boyle emphasizes that these enterprises help people to form relationships that go beyond the gang distinctions.
Boyle says, “If they work together, they become one, no exceptions. … No kinship, no peace, no justice.”
Boyle and some of his homies were invited to speak at the White House Conference on Youth in 2005 by Mrs. George W. Bush. Boyle currently serves on the National Gang Center Advisory Board, and his book, “Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion,” was named one of the Best Books of 2010 by Publisher’s Weekly.
Boyle also takes some homies with him on speaking engagements across the country. He recalls one particular trip, where a former gang member named Mario tearfully told the audience that he would advise his children “not to turn out like him.” One of the members of the audience stood and said, “I hope your kids turn out like you. You’re kind, loving, gentle and wise,” as the entire crowd stood and gave Mario a standing ovation.
Mario is just one of many success stories that prove the effectiveness of these industries. Another homie, Bandit, once approached Boyle and told him that he was “tired of being tired.” He gave up selling crack cocaine and sought a job with Homeboy Industries. Fifteen years later, Bandit is the head supervisor, owns a home, has three daughters and his oldest is going to college.
Boyle does not aspire to be “the McDonalds of drug intervention programs with over five billion served,” so he waits for the homies to come to him and only takes what’s relevant to them. The industries allow the homies to have something to do when they get out of prison, a reason to wake up in the morning and stay out of trouble.
It is a rehab program so they expect relapse, but hope it won’t happen. Boyle points out that on the council of 10 people that runs the industries, there are three homies who were once chronic relapsers. “Ours is a God who waits for you to come back,” Boyle says. “When you’re ready, they’re there.”
He continued, “There isn’t a gang member in LA County who doesn’t know who and where we are. You wouldn’t go into a bar and say ‘I notice this is your eighth beer.’ … They have to come to us.”
The success of Homeboy Industries proves that many former gang members do make the choice to seek help. This success has not changed Boyle, however, who lives by the motto, “If you’re humble you never stumble.”
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