The ‘Boyz in the Hood’ charity we feature in Sylum (specifically scene in the Charles/Erik storylines) is based off Los Angeles based Charity Homeboy Industries, which was founded 30 years ago by Father Greg.
Homeboy Industries provides hope, training, and support to formerly gang-involved and previously incarcerated men and women allowing them to redirect their lives and become contributing members of our community. Each year over 10,000 former gang members from across Los Angeles come through Homeboy Industries’ doors in an effort to make a positive change. They are welcomed into a community of mutual kinship, love, and a wide variety of services ranging from tattoo removal to anger management and parenting classes. Full-time employment is offered for more than 200 men and women at a time through an 18-month program that helps them re-identify who they are in the world, offers job training so they can move on from Homeboy Industries and become contributing members of the community – knowing they count!
In the 1980s, the city of Los Angeles was struggling to deal with escalating gang violence and gang membership. At that time, Boyle Heights had more gang members per capita than any other place in the country. Around that time, Father Greg realized, with the help of many people in his parish, that he needed to provide jobs and education as alternatives to the gangs and the senseless violence they create. So, we started a small job program, “Jobs for a Future,” as part of Dolores Mission in 1988. We became Homeboy Industries in 2001, and have grown to become one of the largest, most comprehensive and most successful gang intervention, rehabilitation and re-entry programs in the country.
It’s a worth while charity that helps kids out of gangs and into a future.
For More Information: Homeboy Industries
Also if you have a charity that you would to be showcased on the blog – email me: sylumclan@yahoo.com
