Father Greg Boyle Speaks at Godmother’s Books in Summerland

“Love never fails.” These three words shared by Father Greg Boyle at his speaking event at Godmother’s Books in Summerland on Tuesday night could sum up his entire philosophy. It’s the ethos that inspired this Jesuit priest and California Peace Prize recipient to create the world’s largest gang intervention, rehabilitation, and re-entry program, Homeboy Industries.

The force of love propelled Boyle to take on his role as pastor at Dolores Mission Church in Los Angeles, a Jesuit parish in Boyle Heights, which at that time was the poorest Catholic church in Los Angeles. Although as Boyle, who holds degrees in Philosophy, English, Theology and Divinity, shared last night though, it’s not just the idea of love that makes change, it’s putting it into action.

“Love has to make its way to your feet so you’re really walking the talk,” he explained. Boyle strapped on his walking shoes back in 1986 at Dolores Mission Church and hasn’t taken them off since. Nestled amid the territories of eight different gangs during what came to be known as the “decade of death” between 1988-1998, where there were close to a thousand people per year killed in Los Angeles from gang related crime, this parish was the perfect place for Boyle to put his love to work.

Under his leadership, the church became a place to develop positive opportunities for gang members and formerly incarcerated people, including establishing an alternative school and a daycare program, as well as by helping people find legitimate employment. After the 1992 L.A. Riots, Boyle and community organizers created Homeboy Bakery, which later became the independent nonprofit organization, Homeboy Industries.

Homeboy Industries is founded under the guiding principle that: “Everyone is unshakably good, no exceptions, and we belong to each other, no exceptions.” It’s a needed message in today’s divisive and often hate-fueled political climate. You could feel the audience sigh, lean in, and remove just a few bricks out of their shoulders at these words.

It’s this non-judgemental tone of Homeboy Industries that provides a welcome detour for those who feel trapped in a cycle of violence and incarceration.

“That’s what the message of healing is all about: being in positive relationships with people,” added Tom Vasso, CEO of Homeboy Industries who joined Boyle on the stage. These opportunities to be in mutually beneficial connection with others is at the heart of Homeboy, where they take a holistic approach, offering free services and programs that support thousands of people a year as they work to rebuild their lives.

Therapy and educational services are offered in addition to optional tattoo removal, work preparation and legal assistance. Their businesses include job training and plenty of space for formerly incarcerated people to find a better future while working at Homeboy Bakery, Homegirl Cafe and Homeboy Silkscreen and Embroidery.

“Gang violence is about a lethal absence of hope,” Boyle explained. He’s written many books exploring how he has cultivated this spirit of hope in those who need it most, including his popular, Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion. In his latest book, Cherished Belonging: The Healing Power of Love in Divided Times, Boyle explains the idea of creating communities where people heal in relationship to others. This is the magic of Homeboy Industries, where he has been able to transform lives daily through compassion rather than condemnation.

“What if we were to invest in people rather than incarcerate our way out of it?” he mused.

The intimate crowd at Godmother’s Books receptively absorbed his message with full body exhales. I let his words wash over me like a warm hug; Boyle has a way of melting tension that’s better than a full body massage. He explained how former gang members who came through his doors after being incarcerated for many years would tell him, “We’re used to being watched, but we’re not used to being seen.”

As a teacher, this isn’t a brand new idea, but it still hit me hard and was a welcome refresher. It could be applied to any job or relationship, reinforcing the fact that people of all ages need to feel valued, “cherished” even, in order to fully thrive.

“The hope is that people find their true selves in loving,” Boyle said.

At the end of the night as Boyle took questions and made time to sign his latest book, it seemed that the crowd walked away a little more tender, seen, and hopefully, ready to pass that goodness on.

Godmother’s Books features an incredible series of author talks, creative workshops and more. Find their full schedule here.