Founded in 1988 by Jesuit priest Father Gregory Boyle in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, Homeboy Industries has grown from a neighborhood response to gang violence into one of the world's most influential gang intervention, rehabilitation, and reentry organizations.
Homeboy's approach begins with a simple conviction: people need opportunities to heal, belong, and build meaningful lives. Rather than relying on punishment and exclusion, the organization provides formerly gang-involved and previously incarcerated people with employment, education, mental health services, legal assistance, tattoo removal, and a supportive community.
Central to its work is a growing collection of social enterprises. Homeboy Bakery, Homegirl Café, catering operations, electronics recycling, and other businesses provide paid training and pathways to employment. The original bakery, opened in 1992, brought former rivals together to work side by side. These businesses are not simply sources of revenue; they are places where people develop skills, relationships, confidence, and a sense of purpose.
Homeboy's flagship 18-month program combines employment with comprehensive support, recognizing that economic opportunity and personal healing are deeply connected. Its model has inspired a global network of organizations adapting similar approaches in their own communities.
For Homeboy Industries, community transformation isn't simply about reducing violence or creating jobs. It's about building a culture of kinship in which people who have been marginalized are recognized as essential members of their communities—and given meaningful opportunities to shape their futures.
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