Los Angeles, California, has been named the gang capital of the United States. With over 1,300 active gangs in the area, almost 150,000 people are affiliated with some sort of gang in LA. Most major cities will have one or two major gangs that have some sort of conflict– LA has 8 major gangs. Because of this, there is violence and terror, especially frequent in the 1980s and 90s. However, there is hope within this brutal community, and that is Father Greg Boyle’s and other surrounding parishes.
Boyle served in Dolores Mission Church and then moved into the poorest Catholic parish in Los Angeles that also had the highest concentration of gang activity in the city. Boyle witnessed what would be called the “decade of death.” This was when gang violence was at its height in the city. In the middle of harsh police tactics and mass incarcerations, Boyle’s church offered a haven for gang members to be treated as humans and learn how to function without destructiveness. Peg Hoddap, Campus Minister at Benilde-St. Margaret’s, was inspired by his mission.“He saw a need in the community, as he shared in his story of people who were heavily involved in gangs going to prison, and he said, I need to change this,” Hodapp said.
Boyle’s mission led to the creation of Homeboy Industries, which would become the biggest gang rehabilitation center in the world. It would change the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. The first installment of the extensive Homeboy Industries was the Homeboy Bakery. Here, gang members could interact with one another in a nonviolent setting; they would bake bread and pastries and sell them. It was also an opportunity for former gang members to earn an honest living. “He saw a need in the community,” Hodapp said.
Homeboy Industries hosts hundreds of different services to their members: tattoo removals, rehabilitation paths, education classes, and more. They also employ their own “homeboys” or gang members who can join the bakery, landscaping crews, or work at one of the many restaurants that Homeboy Industries has created. Each homeboy has their own personalized path and is at different points in their journey. “Their stories were so unique, and it was just crazy what they’ve been through, and that they’re here today,” junior Cecelia Hanson said.
Homeboy Industries visited Benilde-St. Margaret’s for Social Justice Week to speak to students about their experiences and how Boyle has helped them. Boyle, along with two ‘homeboys,” came to our all-school assembly. The “Homeboys’ personally spoke about their experiences with the industry and the help they had received from Boyle. They got up and personally spoke about what they’ve lived through and how they were introduced to Homeboy Industries. “He’s so authentic and just incredibly humble,” Hodapp said.
Boyle got up to speak, and he spoke in a vulnerable way, talking about the members of Homeboy Industries whom he had lost. “I’ve had some exposure to him beforehand, but he is an inspiration to me; he’s incredibly authentic, and you can see that in the way that he cries. Every time I’ve seen him talk, he’s actually choking up when he’s telling the stories,” Hodapp said.
A world-renowned figure, Boyle remained pleasant and humorous in his speech. His speeches remain an inspiration for those in despair and a motivation for others to get up and take action on a problem. “I think that’s a real gift to us, for sure. And also, you know, hopefully [students hear that and] take that in and potentially do something like that in their own future. Maybe he will inspire them to do something. I’ve already had a couple of students tell me ‘I want to get involved,’” Hodapp said.