OM DENNE EPISODE
Fr. Greg Boyle probably never could’ve imagined the future harvest resulting from the simple seeds he planted back 30+ years ago when he saw a need in the neighborhoods that surrounded the parish he was assigned to in East L.A.
Actually as I write these Episode Notes, I am sitting in the Homegirl Café just north of downtown LA, having met a colleague for breakfast. It is buzzing with customers and a bevy of enthusiastic employees serving signature dishes like chilaquiles or providing their most excellent customer service! Homegirl Café is part of a network of social enterprises that have been nurtured over the decades to provide a pathway to employment and purpose for the men and women who find their way into the Homeboy ecosystem.
In this conversation, we explore the evolution of the Homeboy Industries ecosystem over the years. You will hear me ask, “when did you create a Strategic Plan?” Anyone who manages a nonprofit organization will want to hear this answer!
We’ll compare and contrast the commitment Homeboys holds to Radical Kinship and the mantra of Heart Forward, which is Radical Hospitality. We will talk about the importance of cultivating relationship in order to foster mutual trust. And in our reference to Dr. Mary Watkins and her work on Mutual Accompaniment, I'll share here that the word we were looking for is "compagnon" which is French for companion.
You will also hear about the treatment and wellness campus planned for a property in Hollywood, formerly known as the Monastery of the Angels. Homeboys Industries secured this property and was able to take advantage of a nearly $25M grant from the California Behavioral Health Infrastructure Bond Act as a result of funding made available via Proposition 1 that was approved by the voters in March 2024. Renovations are now underway to create Home of the Angels, a planned residential and outpatient recovery campus in Hollywood.
Other resources discussed in this conversation:
Mutual Accompaniment and the Creation of the Commons by Dr. Mary Watkins
Secure by Amir Levine, M.D.: 9798217179817 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books by Amir Levine MD
The Whole Language: The Power of Extravagant Tenderness by Gregory Boyle, SJ
