Homeboy Industries in need of Help
May 13, 2010
130 W. Bruno St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
323.526.1254 (p)
323.526.1257 (f)
This letter is to announce that Homeboy Industries, the country’s largest gang-intervention and job training agency, has officially laid off all of its employees, as of today. Due to financial constraints which have plagued Homeboy for several months, the organization was forced to let go of hundreds of part- and full-time workers from its payroll.
Situated in the gang-neutral territory of downtown Los Angeles near Union Station, Homeboy has been in operation for over 20 years. Father Greg Boyle, a Jesuit priest, founded this nonprofit as a resource for the countless individuals who suffer from street violence on a daily basis. For years, this has been a major source of financial and emotional support for many who have no other place to go.
Though the headquarters will not be closing its doors tomorrow, every staffer who reports to duty in the morning will be a volunteer. All classes offered and all services provided to the Los Angeles community will be coordinated by these volunteers. We members of the Homeboy family feel a keen sense of loyalty and attachment to this agency in spite of the quite unfortunate circumstances which face us today.
Please be aware that all regularly-scheduled events, including classes, support groups, and meetings, will proceed as usual, and that the Homeboy Bakery and Café will remain in operation. This momentary pause in hiring new staff will allow the board of directors and senior staff members to better plan for the future of the organization.
We would like your assistance in publicizing this development, with the clarification that Homeboy is still accepting donations on its website, and that Father Greg’s new book, Tattoos on the Heart, is for sale in stores and online. We also welcome anyone who would like to document tomorrow morning’s staff gathering at 8:45am. Tomorrow, we will stand together to prepare for a new day in the midst of the uncertain times which lay ahead of Homeboy and the greater Los Angeles community.
Thank you for your time and attention to this letter.
Best,
Josselyn P. Velásquez
Domestic Violence Program Coordinator/ Case Manager
Homeboy Industries
130 W. Bruno St
Los Angeles CA 90012
323.526.1254 Ext 334
www.homeboy-industries.org
"Nuestro Feminismo es el ritmo del corazón humano que responde a lás angustias de los pueblos"- Rosa Cordero De Icaza (Our Feminism is the rhythm of the human heart that responds to the anguish of the people)
"Love me when I least deserve it because that is when I need it most" -Swedish Proverb
"When another person makes you suffer, it is because he suffers deeply within himself, and his suffering is spilling over. He does not need punishment; he needs help. That's the message he is sending." - Thich Nhat Hanh
Comments
Enrique
Homeboy industries should continue regardless of pay. This industry is needed, especially in Los Angeles.
Yeah, I got a chance to meet many of their facilitators at this year's Association of Batterer Intervention Programs Conference in LA. It sounded like they are really headed in a constructive direction. It is sad that programs like this struggle.