Homeboy Industries received $1.3 million from the Los Angeles County supervisors on Sept. 14 to help provide jobs and free services for at-risk youth and recently imprisoned adults whom the nonprofit continued to serve despite a $2.5-million shortage, or 25 percent drop, in annual donations.
 |
| Homeboy Industries Lobby |
Adams turned to the organization for support after 12 years of gang involvement. He said he has taken computer literacy and creative writing classes to develop his job skills.
“They’ve given me confidence to communicate,” he said. “Any time you’re seeking a job confidence is key.”
Homeboy Industries serves 12 million people annually with approximately $10 million in free services like job training and tattoo removal, according to Homeboy employee Ray Moreno.
 |
Homeboy Employee Ray Moreno |
Because of its current budget shortfall, Homeboy Industries temporarily cut $2 million from its general operating budget, according to its chief operating officer, Veronica Vargas.
Supervisor Gloria Molina, the county representative for the downtown area where the nonprofit is located, voted in favor of funding a pilot program with Homeboy Industries.
“It was the right thing to do,” said her press deputy, Roxane Marquez. “It was not just a worthy cause, but it was essentially a partnership that could take place.”
 |
Homeboy Bakery |
“We absolutely welcome and need the partnership,” Vargas wrote in an e-mail. “It will allow us to keep our doors open so we can continue to provide rehabilitative wrap-around services and job training.”
To Moreno, the county funding falls short of demand for Homeboy services.
“I’m not going to say $1.3 million is not a lot—in all reality it isn’t,” he said. “It will last two months and two weeks, maybe less.”
 |
Homegirl Café |
Lucky for Homeboy Industries, $3.5 million in donations have been made since the organization was forced to lay off more than 300 employees in May, enabling a third to be rehired.
“Now that the donations are coming in we can help people,” said longtime Homeboy employee Carlos Reza. “We’re here to give them that opportunity. They can lean on us.”
Reza had joined a gang when Homeboy Industries opened its doors 22 years ago as Jobs For A Future. When he got out of jail two years ago he started a different path.
Reza had joined a gang when Homeboy Industries opened its doors 22 years ago as Jobs For A Future. When he got out of jail two years ago he started a different path.
“It’s hard to let go of that gang life,” he said. “I thank God he gave me the willpower.”
To him, the county funding is “a blessing.”
“This is a stepping stone to get back to the community, to help the community and redirect people’s lives,” Reza said. “I’m here for a reason: It’s to give back to the community.”
 |
Job Development Meeting |
At Homeboy Industries, former enemies have learned to put aside their differences and work together as “brothers,” he said. “It’s like a healing place.”
Although initially unsure about the effectiveness of the approach Homeboy Industries founder Fr. Gregory Boyle took to reduce gang violence in Los Angeles, Molina has come to support it, Marquez said.
“Homeboy Industries does good work,” she said.
For many, it was Boyle who made all the difference.
“He sees the compassion and he sees the hurt in you,” Moreno said.
By joining the staff at Homeboy Industries, Moreno has put behind his life of heavy crime, drugs and gang involvement and joined a family full of people who have done the same.
Moreno now works as a domestic violence counselor.
“I don’t get paid much,” he said. “The satisfaction of having a job is enough.”
No comments:
Post a Comment