Homeboy Industries Similar to Youth Apprenticeship Program

Dianne Finnegan

Homebody Industries is a nonprofit organization that assists gang members and convicted felons to change their lives to become contributing members of the community through education, healing, tattoo removal and job placement. Also invited to speak at the event today was Dianne Finnegan, Coordinator of the Youth Apprenticeship Program, who says both organizations provide similar functions in the respective countries.

Dianne Finnegan, Coordinator, Youth Apprenticeship Program

“When we bring in individuals like this, it is really to send a message to those who are trying to become or gearing towards that avenue to say what you’ve heard and what you think the streets is saying to you is a myth because they survived it and they are grateful to be able to tell their story of how they really got into it and the reason why they saw the need to make that transformation in their lives and become better human beings. As he speaks, I see how similar Homeboy Industries is to the Youth Apprenticeship Program. It is similar in so many ways; the only difference is that their focus is on the criminal life—those individuals who have been to prison, who needs a safe home in order to transform their lives. But they find jobs for them and they focus on putting them back to school and the constant mentorship which is crucial. The apprenticeship program is similar. I always say we cannot accomplish seeing a calm in this nation if interventions do not take place where mentoring to these individuals to understand their own purpose, to see the value in themselves and how they are hurting. They are hurting themselves, but they are hurting the extension of themselves.”