On September 21, 2019, I joined thousands of community members supporting Homeboy Industries through its annual Run and Walk.

A longtime LA:RISE partner, Homeboy Industries, demonstrates what becomes possible when workforce development is paired with healing, belonging, and comprehensive support. The organization welcomes formerly gang-involved and previously incarcerated individuals through employment training, wraparound services, tattoo removal, mental health support, and opportunities designed to help people rebuild their lives.

As Gregory Boyle often reminds us: “We belong to each other.”

That philosophy is reflected in Homeboy’s emphasis on kinship, a belief that communities become stronger when people are seen beyond past experiences and offered pathways toward healing and opportunity.

Homeboy’s work continues to challenge traditional ideas of justice by demonstrating that compassion, connection, and investment in people can transform outcomes.