Homeboy Industries – Homeboy Diner and Homegirl Café
Diner, Restaurant, Grocery Store, American
When you enjoy sandwiches, coffees, and desserts at Homeboy Industries in Boyle Heights, you help to combat recidivism in Los Angeles. Founded by Father Greg Boyle in 2001 under the motto ‘Jobs Not Jails’, Homeboy Diner and Homegirl Café provide ex-gang members with new careers through a nationally recognized and emulated gang-intervention program. As stated on their official website, Homeboy Industries answers the question, ‘What if we were to invest in this population rather than just endlessly incarcerate?’ The organization fights back against East LA’s high school drop-out rates and gang violence through jobs and job training at their restaurant, where some menu items are so popular they are showing up on major grocery store shelves. Homeboy also provide education courses, legal assistance, and tattoo removal to further support community members seeking improved lives for themselves and their families.