Why Homeboy Industries Matters to G20 Youth Project
Why Homeboy Industries matters to G20 Youth Project
Back in April 2022, we had the opportunity to experience Homeboy Industries first-hand and it has informed our work. We returned again this year, in 2026, with team from G20 Youth Project. Father Gregory also visited G20 Youth Project at the beginning of the year in 2025 thanks to Medics Against Violence Christine Goodall and James Docherty
Homeboy has had a real influence on how we think about our work here in Glasgow.
We've been inspired by the Homeboy model thanks to Scottish Violence Reduction Unit highlighting their work and it resonated with what we are trying to achieve in Glasgow. We don't want to see young people caught up in addiction, ending up in prison, or, even worse, dying.
Of course, there are differences between Los Angeles and Glasgow, but there are also similarities, communities experiencing high levels of trauma, a lack of support and opportunities, and young people who can become vulnerable to violence and exploitation. We highly recommend listening to the Radio 4 programme on Homeboy and why is it so important. Father Gregory says:
“It's not about good kids or bad kids, it's about a lethal absence of hope.”
We agree that we need to go to the margins and be changed in order to make change. And more people in positions of power could improve the outcomes for people simply by gong to those places and spaces and being wiling to be changes. We could see how the thinking behind Homeboy could relate to us. That was part of the motivation behind Café Hope, our wider support, and G20 developing as a one-stop shop for young people and our community.
We are obviously at a much earlier stage, and this is very much a long game. We've been building a model inspired in part by what we've seen at Homeboy. We're making some progress, but there is a long way to go
If you have an interest in violence reduction, contextual safeguarding, youth work, trauma, addiction, exploitation or community development we think this Radio 4 programme about Homeboy Industries is well worth a listen.
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