We started living for the LORD, so we lasted…

Homeboy Industries is a nonprofit organization based in Los Angeles, California, dedicated to supporting formerly gang-involved and previously incarcerated individuals as they work to build new lives. Founded in 1988 by Father Gregory Boyle, a Jesuit priest, the organization began with a simple goal: provide jobs and support to young people in East L.A. who were stuck in cycles of violence and poverty.

Homeboy Industries offers a variety of services, including job training, education, mental health counseling, substance abuse support, tattoo removal, and legal services. One of its unique aspects is its social enterprise model: Homeboy operates a range of businesses like Homeboy Bakery, Homegirl Café, and Homeboy Electronics Recycling, which provide hands-on job training and employment to participants while generating revenue for the organization.

The organization has become a beacon of hope and a model for re-entry and rehabilitation programs worldwide. Its success stories and transformative programs emphasize the power of compassion, kinship, and second chances, helping participants break the cycle of gang involvement and reintegrate into society as productive, empowered individuals. Father Boyle’s philosophy, centered on “radical kinship” and empathy, has inspired a broader movement for social justice and rehabilitation beyond Los Angeles.