Homeboy Industries Expedition

On this week-long expedition, students traveled to East Los Angeles to partner with Homeboy Industries, the world’s largest gang rehabilitation and re-entry organization. Through direct service and conversation, students learned from the lived experiences of formerly incarcerated community members who have successfully transitioned after gang involvement. Working in the Boyle Heights neighborhood, students helped renovate a community center, facilitated activities with local children, and supported a neighborhood soup kitchen.

In addition to hands-on service, the group met with Homeboy Industries founder Greg Boyle to gain insight into the vision, strategy, and daily operations of this internationally recognized model for community-based healing and social justice. Together, these experiences offered students a deeper understanding of structural violence, restorative justice, and the power of dignity-centered approaches to social change.