Our tour guides were big, tattooed guys who were previously locked up in prison. Any other time, I might have crossed the street to avoid them. But not today.
After eating a delicious and well-presented lunch at Homegirl Cafe with family from out of town, we asked about touring Homeboy Industries. Two trainees, Sal and L’Paul, guided us while expressing genuine affection for each other in the way only men do. They admitted they are in racial groups that would’ve killed each other while doing time.
Homeboy Industries in downtown LA is where ex-gang members start over through a program of job training, tattoo removal, pastry chef and wait staff training, parenting classes, anger management classes, job placement, counseling, drug testing, rehab program and a variety of other services.
L’Paul and Sal started the tour by sharing their respective stories. L’Paul was raised by his grandmother and the members of the Crips south of LA. His high intelligence, size and rootlessness made him a great fit for heroin distribution and violence. He even blew a scholarship to play football (remember I said “big guy”) for Oregon because old habits were not left behind.
Sal’s parents were both active heroine addicts. He and his brother were wards of the state. Eventually, they landed in a foster setting where the adult son of the foster mom raped and beat Sal repeatedly. Sal and his brother ran away — read: escaped — only to live on the streets, get shot and fall into addiction. He self-medicated for epilepsy, depression and pain.
Extreme poverty played in the background and still does for both men. Rents alone in LA are astronomical.
Sal is in classes for his GED, anger management, and parenting skills. His goal is to get a job and an apartment so he can get his kids out of the homeless shelter.
L’Paul’s girlfriend calls the program at Homeboys “adult daycare” because of fieldtrips the men take. They’ve visited local museums such as the Broad, gone camping and even surfing. All of their outings are new experiences and broaden their world view, much like what middle class parent do for their children. For these ex-gang members, the family they are forming at Homeboys is one of deep kinship among men and women who didn’t have functional families. Their new family is supportive, calling and texting reminders about classes and work. They have access to some basic health care (while we were there St John’s mobile clinic was providing services). They have food, in fact, world class meals from the trainees in Homegirl Cafe. They have brothers and sisters that are a positive and non judgmental community searching for a better life for themselves and those around them. Best of luck to the Sals and L’Pauls of the world.
Rosana
Ordinary Gente 