If you have been to a farmers’ market in Los Angeles, shopped at Ralphs or Food4Less, or even been through the terminal 4 at LAX, you’ve probably seen Homegirl or Homeboy cafés and sauces — both enterprises of Homeboy Industries. The backstory of the remarkable rise of the Father Greg Boyle’s Homeboy Industries is detailed in the compelling documentary G-Dog.
Twenty-five years ago, Father Boyle, an affable white Jesuit priest, was assigned to a parish in East LA where gang ruled the streets. While searching for solutions to reduce the violence, Father Boyle inadvertently created a global model for social reform. He began by providing services for former gang members and former prisoners, including tattoo removal, job training, counseling, yoga, fatherhood, and substance abuse classes – all free. Since these reformed homeboys and homegirls were virtually unemployable, Father Boyle developed jobs for them within the organization. Organically, these jobs grew into the social enterprises known as Homeboy Industries.
The film’s tag line is: “Nothing stops a bullet like a job.” Academy-Award winning director Freida Mock began following Father Boyle (affectionately known as G-Dog) and his associates in 2010, a period of instability for the organization. We watch them handle financial crises, deaths, and myriad obstacles — by the seat of their pants, but always with incredible humanity. To witness former addicts, felons, and gang members being given the opportunity to grow and gain personal strength is truly amazing. The film is affecting and memorable and inspiring.
G-DOG will be released in select cities nationwide for a special run engagement the week of April 22 as part of Cinedigm’s Docurama series, which celebrates thought-provoking documentaries over a series of 8 weeks. The theatrical debut of G-Dog in Los Angeles will be on Thursday, April 25 at 7:30 pm with a Q&A following the screening at the Laemmle Monica 4, 1332 2nd Street, Santa Monica.
Follow Father G’s upcoming appearances.
Karen Henry is an Associate Editor at LA YOGA who volunteers in a variety of capacities for nonprofit organizations and artists around Los Angeles. She practices yoga as a counterbalance to her daily impact sports and is a mother of four grown children who also practice yoga . Now, she’s working on teaching yoga and joy of life to the grandkids!