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Homeboy's Future
From Boyle Heights to the Heart
of Los Angeles
Our third location in Boyle Heights kept us close to our
founding community, but was making it increasingly difficult
for us to provide services effectively. On any given day,
young people were stacked three-deep, filling the reception
areas, hallways and staff offices as they come to participate
in a Homeboy-sponsored program or service or, as is often
the case, to just spend time in this safe haven many call
“home.”
Homeboy’s various programs were starved for room and
in some cases rented outside space and thereby wasting valuable
financial resources. Ever since the Homeboy Bakery burned
down in 1999, Homeboy has been searching for a way to re-open
this founding business, propelling ongoing planning for
a new bakery facility which, over the years, came to include
an overall expansion. After careful consideration and assessment
of options, the Board concluded, in December 2004, to build
a new Headquarters to house expanded services, and open
at the time what were to be new businesses. A Strategic
Plan was developed to carry us into the new Headquarters.
In September, 2007, we moved into our fourth home. This
move to a new headquarters in neutral gang territory is
a physical representation of the transformation of Homeboy
Industries in the past 20 years. As we absorb the many changes
brought on by this transition, we are engaging in another
period of organizational analysis.
It is our hope that once we have had an opportunity to live
in our new space, and study the effectiveness of our expanded
programs and nonprofit businesses, we will begin our next
formulation of strategic planning.
What’s Next?
From our 20 years of experience, we know that there are
many needs among the at-risk and formerly gang-involved
youth. Homeboy has identified some significant issues that
must be addressed in the next few years by Homeboy and/or
in partnerships:
- Transitional housing
- Day care
- Additional outreach programs
- Expansion of Curriculum and Education
programs, including a comprehensive charter high school,
performing arts, and more
- Expansion of key services, including
Job Development, Case Management, Resource and Referrals
- Growth of Homeboy Silkscreen &
Embroidery business
There is much to be done
in gang intervention and re-entry. Homeboy Industries will
continue to serve and lead in this critical field of work.
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