Gang intervention expert offers advice for us all

My son was excited to share the news with me that someone I used to work with was coming to speak to his entire high school. I was thrilled to hear this.

In 1988, I worked at Dolores Mission, the poorest parish in Los Angeles at that time, as a Jesuit volunteer. Greg Boyle S.J. was the pastor there. He was new to being a Jesuit, and I was new to being an adult.

While I was teaching 6th, 7th and 8th graders in the East L.A. neighborhood notorious for vicious gangs, Fr. Greg was beginning his outreach to those gang members.

Thirty years later, his good work has evolved into Homeboy Industries, a company that he founded. It is the largest gang intervention, rehabilitation and job re-entry program in the world.  Additionally Father Greg speaks around the world to inspire others to consider the principles he and his team use for their work.

I think everyone can be inspired by Father Greg’s messages.

Leaders, here’s a few take-always for you:

1. Provide kinship --We are all in need of kinship.

When former gang members were provided solely a job, many went back to the gangs.

When Homeboy Industries studied this phenomena, they concluded that in addition to a job, they needed to provide former gang members counseling and a consistent and supportive culture. When they did this, most gang members were able to stay away from the gangs.

Culture matters. Invest in your culture and keep an eye on it.

2. Practice extravagant tenderness -- We all need to be understood.

When former gang members experienced compassion from Homeboy Industries, they were able identify and address what caused them to flee and join gangs.

By being part of the Homeboy Industries family, they were able to see empathic behavior role-modeled, and as a result become empathic and compassionate with others.

When people on your team endure extraordinary personal hardship, be there for them. Offer support that you think would be helpful if you were them. Encourage others to do the same.

3. Promote hope -- We can feel hopeless when we don’t know what’s ahead.

Homeboy Industries counseling provides former gang members an 18 month road map to a gang-free life. 

Plus Homeboy Industries’ employees include rehabilitated gang members. Gang members in the program are able to get to know others who have transformed.

When leading a business transformation, understand some of your employees will be anxious. Provide them a clear road map and access to team members (e.g. superusers or change agents) who have already made the transformation.

Learn More

The same day my son and his school heard Fr. Greg’s messages, I attended a lecture given by Fr. Greg and two former gang members at the University of Chicago. If you want to learn more about the good work being done at Homeboy industries and be inspired by Fr. Greg’s guiding principles, I encourage you to listen to the U of C lecture or this shorter TedX version.