Faithventure Forum

If you're interested in experiencing the crazy world of faith ventures , Father Greg Boyle's recent book, Tattoos on the Heart , is a must read. The book wonderfully captures the flavor of employing ex-gang members rebuilding lives at Los Angeles' Homeboy Industries . Instead of being a how to book or a history of Homeboy, Boyle organizes his stories around nine spiritual themes that arise out of his unique ministry. These include the importance of God, the damaging nature of dis-grace, the slow nature of God's work, the difficulty of defining success apart from God and the value of kinship. Indeed, these themes are fundamental to any faith venture business as ministry and are a good primer for anyone considering such an activity.  In particular, I loved how he understands Homeboy to be a place that absolutely needs God to show up in order to be successful. He tells how depending on God for resources became an exercise of faith. " We constantly lived ...

Faith venture Homeboy Industries has started manufacturing a line of chips and salsa which has become the fastest selling snack item at Ralphs Delis in Southern California at profiled in an article in the Los Angeles Times . The organization is hoping that this new product line will help it to continue to grow back from its near financial disaster during the recession. It's fantastic to see how several faith ventures are thinking creatively in the area of nitche food products to leverage their social mission appeal to develop new revenue streams.

Rudy Carrasco updated everyone in his Urban Onramps blog with the latest good news coming from Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles. Check out the story in the Los Angeles Times . As I've written before, I consider Homeboy one of the innovators and finest examples of domestic faith venture operations in the United States . It was upsetting when they encountered hard times earlier this year. But I'm excited to hear that they are starting to regain their footing and move forward with their mission. Homeboy will continue to have much to teach the rest of us trying to follow in their footsteps.

I just learned today from my friend Rudy Carrasco that Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles had to lay off 300 of their employees yesterday . That was almost their whole staff. I am really sad over this. Over the last 11 years at Belay Enterprises , I have tried to model the passion and innovation that Father Greg Boyle deploys on behalf of individuals rebuilding lives. When I occasionally speak around the country on faith ventures, I often share Homeboy as one of the innovators of this unique form of business as mission. Three years ago, I had the opportunity to work with Father Greg while organizing a Faith and Enterprise Pre-Conference for the Social Enterprise Alliance in Long Beach. He absolutely enraptured 100 people with his stories of life change in the numerous business ventures started to assist ex-gang members trying to rebuild lives. I remember thinking he should have been the keynote speaker for the whole conference. Even during this tough time, Father Greg is already ...

I am a big fan of Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles as I explained in a recent post . This past weekend, the Wall Street Journal detailed a new solar industry-training program started by Homeboy in the past year. I smiled when I read this because I have been brainstorming new job training opportunities over the last few months. One of the concepts that I am exploring is solar energy installation. We are always looking for opportunities to create businesses that employ individuals rebuilding lives from addiction, homelessness or felony convictions. The perfect opportunity provides a skilled labor-intensive position in a sustainable industry with the possibility of living wages. The burgeoning solar industry seems like it may offer such a mix of opportunity over the next few years in Colorado. I blogged last year about how the sustainable energy industry is growing in Colorado because of its proximity to the National Renewable Entergy Labs in Golden. The Wired grant provides funds to ...

About two years ago, I had the opportunity to meet Father Greg Boyle , who is one of the most inspirational faith venture leaders I have ever met. There’s a good chance you’ve heard his story because he is a sought our expert on the issue of gang intervention strategies and makes many media appearances. I was even watching an international travel show on PBS this past year where Father Greg appeared as part of Globe Trekkers ’ dining recommendations for Los Angeles. Father Greg is the founder of Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles, California. He gave the keynote talk to a Faith and Enterprise seminar that I organized at the 1997 Social Enterprise Alliance Gathering in Long Beach, California. Father Greg shared with us many wonderful stories of life-change that have come about through his faith venture businesses and community programs. Homeboy traces its roots to the 1988 formation of the Jobs for a Future program after the Los Angeles riots when the community was seeking solutions to ...