The Homeboy Way

A room full of prosecutors, judges, police chiefs, community organizers, and young people sit together at the Global Homeboy Network gathering. For Tanya Washington, that room captures what systems change actually requires: people who rarely share a table discovering they want the same things for young people.In this episode, Tom Vozzo welcomes Tanya Washington, senior associate in the Juvenile Justice Strategy Group at the Annie E. Casey Foundation, recorded at the California Endowment during the Global Homeboy Network gathering. Tanya has attended at least 10 of these gatherings and this year brought 40 people from five jurisdictions: Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Washington, D.C., and Georgia.Together, they explore why ending the youth prison model requires changing philosophy as much as structure, how harm is often steeped in unaddressed trauma, why evidence building must not come at the cost of turning people away, and how seeing transformation up close changes what system leaders believe is possible. From Savannah's Front Porch to Brooklyn's Project Bed-Stuy, this conversation reveals how bringing people together and keeping love in the middle turns inspiration into programs that last.Key TakeawaysHarm is often rooted in unaddressed trauma. Tanya urges prosecutors, judges, and other decision-makers to understand a young person’s journey before deciding their future, since many who cause serious harm have also experienced it. Ending the youth prison model starts with philosophy.The biggest roadblock to ending the youth prison model is a philosophy of punishment. If the goal is safer communities and young people who contribute, the response should focus on what works.Evidence matters, but not at the cost of turning people away.Fr. Greg's conviction that Homeboy would never use a random control trial because it would mean turning away half the people who come for helpBeing seen can change what systems leaders believe is possible.Tanya brings justice leaders to Homeboy to witness how kinship and transformation can change lives beyond what words alone can convey.Love belongs in the middle.Tanya told Fr. Greg that all the pieces just have to have love in the middle and he agreedIn This Episode[00:00] Introduction[00:30] Tanya Washington and the Global Homeboy Network[01:19] Tanya’s role at the Annie E. Casey Foundation[03:44] The foundation’s approach to youth justice reform[06:06] Understanding young people’s journeys[08:51] Rethinking the youth prison model[09:39] Barriers to change and community alternatives[11:55] Building evidence for programs like Homeboy[16:16] How youth justice has changed[17:49] Bringing systems and communities together[21:33] How Tanya connected with Homeboy[23:20] Kinship, transformation, and bringing leaders together[25:36] What motivates Tanya’s work[28:02] Faith and finding common ground[29:28] Hope for the next generation[30:54] ClosingNotable Quotes“Harm is often steeped in unaddressed trauma.” - Tanya [07:07]“I really think all these pieces just have to have love in the middle.” - Tanya [25:52]Resources and LinksHomeboy Industrieshttps://homeboyindustries.org/https://www.youtube.com/@HomeboyIndustries_LA/videosDonate: https://homeboyindustries.org/donate/donate-online/Homeboy Media https://homeboyindustries.org/social-enterprises/homeboy-media/Thomas Vozzohttps://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasvozzoThe Homeboy Way: A Radical Approach to Business and Life: https://www.amazon.com/Homeboy-Way-Radical-Approach-Business/dp/082945456XCredits:Hosted by: Tom VozzoProduced by: Podify, and Alexa Rousso and Melody Carter of Homeboy Media

At Puppy Fades, a fresh start happens one dog at a time. Inside Homeboy Industries’ dog grooming business in Pasadena, people rebuilding their lives after homelessness, incarceration, and addiction are finding careers, confidence, and connection. For Hilda, working with dogs has brought something deeply personal: peace of mind.In this episode of The Homeboy Way, host Tom Vozzo goes behind the scenes with store manager Iris Chen and the Puppy Fades team. From the reception desk to the grooming tables, they share how hands-on training, supportive leadership, and daily problem-solving help employees build skills and take pride in their work.Groomers Evelyn and David share their recovery, stability, and the patience they bring to caring for anxious dogs. Through their stories, this episode explores how Homeboy Industries’ social enterprise model creates opportunities for meaningful employment, personal growth, and second chances, guided by hope, kinship, and compassion.Key TakeawaysA new career can create a fresh start.Puppy Fades gives Homeboy participants a path to skilled work and greater independence.Working with dogs brings connection.Groomers describe finding calm, practicing patience, and building trust with animals.Stability supports lasting change.Evelyn shares how emotional and mental support helped her prepare for employment.Small successes build confidence.Iris explains how solving everyday challenges helps employees become more resilient.Compassion extends to shelter dogs.The team brings its skills to animals who need care and reassurance.In This Episode[00:00] Introduction[00:10] Inside Puppy Fades with store manager Iris Chen[00:35] Rosemary and the power of a personal welcome[02:28] A tour of the grooming room[03:09] Helping anxious dogs build trust[05:50] Hilda’s path through grooming training[08:08] Finding peace through working with dogs[10:04] Iris on leading the Puppy Fades team[11:15] Building confidence and learning from mistakes[12:55] Earning a reputation for the best bath in Pasadena[14:15] Meet groomers Evelyn and David[14:48] Recovery, reentry, and choosing a fresh start[16:28] Finding emotional support and stability[17:32] Discovering a connection with animals[22:06] Helping pet parents understand their dogs’ needs[23:35] Teamwork and the demands of dog grooming[25:12] Hope, kinship, and compassion at work[26:12] Bringing care to shelter dogs[28:38] Gratitude for Father Greg and Homeboy IndustriesNotable Quotes“The dogs are very therapeutic for me.It feels good to have that peace of mind now.”- Hilda [08:08]“From day one, we've come in and we've made sure that our quality and our safety standards lead as number one, and we follow that with a really good work ethic and positive attitude.”- Iris [12:36]“I gave Homeboy two years of my life. I said, ‘Y'all do whatever you want for two years, and if I'm not in a good place then, the street's right there.’”- David [20:20]“My family's proud of me. They see me as really dedicated to my job and really responsible.”- Evelyn [21:43]Resources and LinksHomeboy Industrieshttps://homeboyindustries.org/https://www.youtube.com/@HomeboyIndustries_LA/videosDonate: https://homeboyindustries.org/donate/donate-online/Homeboy Media https://homeboyindustries.org/social-enterprises/homeboy-media/Thomas Vozzohttps://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasvozzoThe Homeboy Way: A Radical Approach to Business and Life: https://www.amazon.com/Homeboy-Way-Radical-Approach-Business/dp/082945456XCredits:Hosted by: Tom VozzoProduced by: Podify, and Alexa Rousso and Melody Carter of Homeboy Media

What happens when someone serves their sentence, comes home, and still can’t get a job or find a place to live? For Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, that isn’t a second chance. It’s another barrier to survival. In this episode of The Homeboy Way, she joins Tom Vozzo to discuss poverty, criminal justice reform, and why helping people rebuild their lives takes more than releasing them from prison.Mayor Bass reflects on the violence and loss that led her to found Community Coalition, her shared commitment to redemption with Father Greg Boyle, and the fight to remove employment barriers for formerly incarcerated people. She shares one striking example: people could train as barbers in prison but were denied the licenses they needed to work after coming home.The conversation also explores homelessness in Los Angeles, the financial incentives that can undermine efforts to end poverty, and why practical results matter more than political ideology. Through it all, Mayor Bass returns to the people who keep her grounded, explaining how visits to Homeboy Industries restore her hope and strengthen her commitment to the next generation of leaders.Key TakeawaysSecond chances require a path forward.Employment and housing barriers can leave formerly incarcerated people struggling to survive, even after they have completed their sentences.Practical reforms can open doors.Her work on barber licensing shows how removing a specific restriction can help people turn training into legitimate employment.Examine the incentives behind poverty programs.Mayor Bass argues that businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies can develop financial interests that conflict with solving the problems they address.Challenge assumptions about who becomes poor.She pushes back on the idea that hard work alone overcomes structural barriers and explains how contempt shapes public support for services.Stay connected to the people the work serves.Homeboy visits and street outreach help Mayor Bass remain grounded, resist cynicism, and remember her purpose.In This Episode[00:00] Introduction[00:23] Welcoming Mayor Karen Bass[01:12] Finding common ground with Father Greg Boyle[03:45] Choosing redemption over punishment[04:59] Preventing gang involvement and creating second chances[05:30] Addiction, treatment, and unequal responses[06:27] Why Mayor Bass initially resisted electoral politics[07:05] Community Coalition and youth leadership[09:33] Removing barriers after incarceration[10:59] Connecting criminal justice reform and homelessness[12:43] Trained in prison, denied a barber’s license[14:37] Making a point versus making a difference[15:19] How poverty became a business[17:18] Challenging the myths about poverty[18:27] Why community organizations are set up to struggle[19:25] Term limits, bureaucracy, and political power[20:19] How Homeboy Industries restores hope[20:56] A life’s calling and preparing future leaders[21:46] Finding strength through faith in people[22:35] Closing reflectionsNotable Quotes“I believed that addiction was a health problem, not a criminal problem.” - Mayor Karen Bass [05:30]“There is always something that you can do to make life better, even for people who have been incarcerated for years and years.” - Mayor Karen Bass [14:05]“You look for things that provide tangible results to people who are suffering.” - Mayor Karen Bass [16:51]Resources and LinksHomeboy Industrieshttps://homeboyindustries.org/https://www.youtube.com/@HomeboyIndustries_LA/videosDonate: https://homeboyindustries.org/donate/donate-online/Homeboy Media https://homeboyindustries.org/social-enterprises/homeboy-media/Thomas Vozzohttps://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasvozzoThe Homeboy Way: A Radical Approach to Business and Life: https://www.amazon.com/Homeboy-Way-Radical-Approach-Business/dp/082945456XCredits:Hosted by: Tom VozzoProduced by: Podify, and Alexa Rousso and Melody Carter of Homeboy Media

A man takes off his mask, looks up, and smiles as a room full of people applauds him. For Hector Verdugo, that moment in Manila captures what Homeboy Industries brings to communities around the world: the chance to feel seen, valued, and worthy of belonging.In this episode of The Homeboy Way, Tom Vozzo welcomes Fr. Greg Boyle, S.J. and Hector Verdugo home from Japan and the Philippines. They share the story of Ex-Preso, a coffee enterprise inspired by Homeboy that supports returning citizens, and reflect on bringing a message of compassion and radical kinship to students, business leaders, and people rebuilding their lives after prison.Together, they explore why successful reentry involves more than job training, how sharing personal stories can challenge judgment, and why love and belonging resonate across cultures. From early-morning conversations in Tokyo to encounters with new partners in Manila, this conversation reveals how Homeboy’s approach to healing and second chances is becoming a global movement.Key TakeawaysBeing seen can restore a sense of worth.Hector describes how recognition and encouragement helped returning citizens in Manila become more comfortable, connected, and willing to be seen.Homeboy’s influence reaches beyond Los Angeles.Ex-Preso’s housing and barista training illustrate how communities can adapt Homeboy’s approach to support people returning from prison.Compassion asks something of people with power.When speaking to students and business leaders, the invitation is to recognize what people experiencing poverty carry and respond with understanding.Personal stories deserve to stand on their own.Fr. Greg gives homies space to tell their stories, trusting that human connection matters more than a polished performance.Global kinship grows through mutual support.Visiting international partners strengthens relationships and recognizes the work communities are already doing.In This Episode[00:00] Introduction[00:31] Returning from Japan and the Philippines[01:48] The “Dublin Four” travel tradition[02:53] Ex-Preso: A Homeboy-inspired coffee enterprise in Manila[05:18] Helping returning citizens feel seen and valued[07:45] Inviting future leaders to lead with compassion[08:43] Supporting Ex-Preso through new business opportunities[09:47] Why reentry employment starts with healing[11:02] How Homeboy’s message connects in the Philippines[16:06] The Jesuit community’s commitment to people on the margins[16:43] How the trip renewed Hector’s sense of purpose[19:43] Fr. Greg on a movement to “shorten the darkness”[20:52] Hope and translating kinship into local action[24:00] Giving homies the opportunity to tell their stories[26:25] Connecting with audiences across cultures[29:20] Hector on reaching people who arrive with judgment[31:16] Behind the scenes: Coffee and connection in Tokyo[35:54] Strengthening the Global Homeboy Network[36:50] Closing reflectionsNotable Quotes“I was really proud to be a Jesuit in that country, 'cause they were very connected to the cry of the poor.” - Fr. Greg Boyle [16:06]“We need to build these communities all over the world to make the world into a better place.” - Hector Verdugo [19:01]“Love is the next thing to do always.” - Fr. Greg Boyle [20:19]“It's not about Homeboy. It's just about love. It's about opening up. It's about community.” - Hector Verdugo [30:39]Resources and LinksHomeboy Industrieshttps://homeboyindustries.org/https://www.youtube.com/@HomeboyIndustries_LA/videosDonate: https://homeboyindustries.org/donate/donate-online/Homeboy Media https://homeboyindustries.org/social-enterprises/homeboy-media/Thomas Vozzohttps://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasvozzoThe Homeboy Way: A Radical Approach to Business and Life: https://www.amazon.com/Homeboy-Way-Radical-Approach-Business/dp/082945456XCredits:Hosted by: Tom VozzoProduced by: Podify, and Alexa Rousso and Melody Carter of Homeboy Media

At Homeboy Industries, a young person can push a therapist away and still find the door open when they return. Tom Vozzo sits down with therapists Fajima Bedran and Jason Delgadillo to explore how trust, belonging, and consistent care help young people heal from childhood trauma. Together, they discuss youth therapy, complex trauma, EMDR, and the relief of realizing that abuse and neglect were never your fault.Fajima and Jason also examine how food insecurity, unstable housing, substance use, and social media perfectionism complicate youth mental health. They share how Homeboy’s community extends support beyond therapy, why forgiveness should never be forced, and how avoiding painful feelings can keep those wounds active. Their conversation reveals what becomes possible when people have both practical support and someone who keeps showing up.Key TakeawaysYouth therapy requires patience and persistence.Young people may initially challenge or reject a therapist. Keeping the relationship available gives them a chance to return when they are ready.Recognizing trauma can ease self-blame.Fajima and Jason discuss how understanding childhood abuse and neglect can help people recognize that they did not deserve what happened to them.Community carries healing beyond the session.At Homeboy, people leave therapy and return to a community that encourages treatment and reinforces the care they experience in the room.Avoiding pain does not make it disappear.Fajima and Jason explain how suppressed feelings can surface elsewhere, including in relationships, and why acknowledging pain matters to healing.In This Episode[00:00] Introduction[00:25] Tom welcomes Fajima Bedran and Jason Delgadillo[02:13] How mental health therapy began at Homeboy Industries[04:50] Understanding complex trauma and early relationships[06:59] What it means to do therapy the Homeboy way[08:03] Judgment, authenticity, and unconditional positive regard[11:54] Why Jason wanted to work at Homeboy[13:59] How youth therapy differs from adult therapy[15:41] Childhood neglect, abuse, and attachment wounds[17:15] The relief of realizing it was not your fault[19:05] What keeps young people coming back to therapy[22:06] How Homeboy’s community reinforces therapy[24:39] Helping young people explore their emotional wounds[27:25] Why suppressed emotions come out in other ways[30:33] Are love, forgiveness, and mercy essential to healing?[32:58] Care, intimacy, and boundaries in therapy[35:10] Faith, self-love, and healing[37:54] Food insecurity, housing, and substance use[40:34] Combining emotional support with practical help[42:29] Social media misinformation and youth perfectionism[45:34] Why avoiding painful feelings can get in the way[47:19] What gives Fajima and Jason hope[49:13] Recognizing Homeboy’s mental health teamNotable Quotes“There's a caring that happens in the room and outside of the room at Homeboy, which we're lucky to have, that is really important in terms of the client feeling like this person really cares for me.” - Fajima [31:39]“I like to think sometimes that I hold the torch for hope that things are gonna get better, because they really are, if you think about it. There are places like Homeboy. There's really a lot of hope in the world, and I would argue that although there's a lot of things that are bad, there are also a lot of things getting better.” - Jason [48:20]Resources and LinksHomeboy Industrieshttps://homeboyindustries.org/https://www.youtube.com/@HomeboyIndustries_LA/videosDonate: https://homeboyindustries.org/donate/donate-online/Homeboy Media https://homeboyindustries.org/social-enterprises/homeboy-media/Thomas Vozzohttps://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasvozzoThe Homeboy Way: A Radical Approach to Business and Life: https://www.amazon.com/Homeboy-Way-Radical-Approach-Business/dp/082945456XCredits:Hosted by: Tom VozzoProduced by: Podify, and Alexa Rousso and Melody Carter of Homeboy Media