LOS ANGELES – Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa joined Father Gregory Boyle today to open Homeboy Industries’ latest social enterprise – Homeboy Diner at Los Angeles City Hall. Homeboy Diner is an extension of the highly-acclaimed Homegirl Café and will offer baked goods and menu items from both Homeboy Bakery and Homegirl Café. Homeboy Industries is a non-profit organization that provides rehabilitation services and job training to former gang members.
“When you buy your morning coffee or lunch at Homeboy Diner, you’re not just buying a great meal, you’re investing in the lives of men and women who are working to turn their lives around,” Mayor Villaraigosa said. “For over two decades, Homeboy Industries has offered second chances for a brighter future and the addition of the Homeboy Diner at City Hall continues that celebrated tradition.”
The Homeboy Diner has been generously underwritten by a grant from The Cornerstone Project, a private foundation supporting positive life transformation and spiritual reconciliation for ex-offenders. The grant funded the conversion of the Los Angeles City Hall space and will sustain the Diner during its critical first year of operation.
“The opening of the Homeboy Diner will allow us to expand our outreach, and continue to serve and positively impact our community,” said Founder Father Greg Boyle. “Proceeds from the Diner will inject funds into our programs that help thousands of young adults stay off the streets.”
The Homeboy Diner space at City Hall was designed by world-renowned architects Mark Rios and Julie Smith-Clementi of Rios Clementi Hale Studios. Homeboy volunteer Bruce Karatz led the project.
“Homeboy Industries has made an outstanding impact in the lives of so many young people in our community,” said Adrian Koehler, Executive Director of The Cornerstone Project. “We are honored that our donation made the opening of Homeboy Diner possible and continues to help Homeboy Industries change lives.”
Founded in 1988 by Father Gregory Boyle, Homeboy Industries’ mission is to provide high-risk youth and former gang members with a variety of services that include job training, mental health counseling, legal services, tattoo removal, employment services, case management and job training.
The City of Los Angeles has awarded Homeboy Industries over $1 million in grants from federal funds to support their gang intervention and reentry efforts.
Homeboy Industries is also a partner of the Mayor’s Office of Gang Reduction Youth Development’s Summer Night Lights program.
Homeboy Diner joins the Homeboy family of social enterprises that includes: Homeboy Bakery, Homegirl Café & Catering including Homeboy Tortilla Strips and Salsas (available at Ralphs), Homeboy Silkscreen & Embroidery, Homeboy Merchandise Store and Homeboy Farmers Markets –where formerly gang-involved youth are employed and trained.
Open to the public and located on the second floor of City Hall, Homeboy Diner hours of operation are 6:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., Monday – Friday.
About Homeboy Industries
Homeboy Industries assists high-risk, formerly gang-involved youth and the recently incarcerated to become contributing members of our community through a variety of services in response to their multiple needs. Our free programs – including counseling, education, tattoo removal, job training and placement – enable young men and women to redirect their lives and provide them with hope for their futures. Since its inception, Homeboy Industries has become a national and international model for successful gang intervention, a place where former gang members have a second chance at life and for too many, a true first chance. For more information, visit www.homeboyindustries.org.