“We give them (the homies) hope and a chance to re-imagine their lives. We give them a chance to get off the freeway,” the freeway being the fast and hard way of gang life. This is how Father Gregory Boyle and Homeboy Industries impacts former gang members’ lives for the better.
Homeboy Industries is an organization that helps formerly incarcerated people get back on their feet through counseling programs, tattoo removals, and a department dedicated to getting former gang members a job. Father Boyle calls the people he helps “homies,” and says, “They (the homies) are so used to being watched but not used to being seen.” Homeboy sees them. Father Gregory Boyle, the founder of Homeboy Industries, has come out with his third book, The Whole Language. The Whole Language is a book containing different stories that influenced Father Boyle during his time at Homeboy Industries.
I spoke with him on November 4th at a book signing at Village Well in Culver City. Father Boyle explained how he started Homeboy Industries when he was a priest in 1988. There was a war going on between eight gangs in a local area, and he was trying to keep peace. He described his role in that experience as “supplying oxygen to them, you know, keeping them alive.” So much has changed since his experience in 1988. Now, his organization is winning international awards and has a headquarters set up to help even more people every day.
After my interview with the Father, I went to St. Augustine Church to hear him speak. He delivered a passionate speech that made me cry, laugh, and smile throughout the talk. He used stories that he has heard to connect the dots and fill in some background. One story that struck a chord within me was a story from the Bible. It talks about how there was a different man. He scared some people, and they would avoid the road he would stand on so that they wouldn’t have to pass him. One day, Jesus came up to the man and asked him his name. In doing this, he treated him with tenderness, something that always gets through to people. As Father Boyle then went on to explain, tenderness is sometimes all someone needs. Someone to listen to them. Someone to know their name.
Father Boyle has made a positive impact on so many people’s lives. As he says, “When homies go back out into the world after their time is done with us, the world will throw at them what it will, but this time, it won’t topple them.” Father Boyle helps them find a purpose in life and brings them to light. He shared success stories of homies who now have families, kids in college, and have the resources to have a nice dinner with him. He’s helped gangs see peace, become friends, and put a stop to bloodshed. Gregory Boyle should be a name known to everyone. His book, The Whole Language, is now available to buy on Amazon and in different bookstores.
NOTE: This article was also published in the Culver City Newspaper on November 18, titled “Father Boyle brings peace to those in need”
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