Father Greg Boyle, a Jesuit Catholic priest who based the Homeboy Industries gang intervention program in Los Angeles, will obtain the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the very best civilian award in america.
Boyle is one among 19 recipients who shall be honored Friday on the White Home by President Joe Biden. The honorees embrace high-profile figures akin to Vice President Al Gore, former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Opal Lee, an educator and activist identified for her efforts to make Juneteenth a federally acknowledged vacation.
The award, established by President John F. Kennedy in 1963, is given to individuals who have “made distinctive contributions to the safety or nationwide pursuits of America, to world peace, or to cultural or different important public or personal endeavors.”
In an announcement, the White Home described Boyle because the founding father of the world’s largest gang intervention and rehabilitation program and credited him with turning across the lives of 1000’s of Angelenos. Boyle couldn’t instantly be reached for remark.
Boyle grew to become pastor of Dolores Mission Church in 1986. The parish in Boyle Heights was one of many poorest, serving residents from housing tasks akin to Aliso Village and Pico Gardens. On the time, the world additionally had the most important focus of gang exercise in a metropolis the place there have been tons of of gangs with 1000’s of members. As much as 9 gangs had been energetic close to the parish, based on the mission’s web site.
By 1988, Boyle created Jobs for a Future on the mission. This system’s goal was to assist women and men transition away from gangs by means of schooling, job coaching and employment. Jobs for a Future ultimately developed into Homeboy Industries and expanded its companies to incorporate tattoo removing, housing help and substance abuse help, in addition to coaching in jobs akin to photo voltaic panel set up.
The nonprofit additionally launched a number of companies through the years which have been staffed by previously incarcerated shoppers who’re enrolled in its varied applications. The companies consists of Homeboy Bakery, which provides merchandise for its Homeboy Farmers Markets, Homeboy Diner and Homegirl Cafe and Catering. It additionally runs an electronics recycling enterprise.
The nonprofit mentioned its strategy to remodeling the lives of former gang members has turn into a blueprint for a lot of different organizations throughout the U.S. and a number of other nations, together with Honduras, Australia and Zimbawe.
Boyle, a member of the Jesuit order for 50 years and a priest for 38 years, has acquired different main awards such because the California Peace Prize and was inducted into the California Corridor of Fame. In 2014, President Obama named Father Boyle a Champion of Change, a recognition by the Obama White Home for “folks doing extraordinary issues to make a distinction of their communities.”
The Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony will happen at 1:30 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time and may be watched right here.
