Thistle Farms & Homeboy Industries: Family, Network, & Maybe You

Problem:

Millions of folks with hard stories could be nurtured under the missional covering of a social business: an economic-engine that sustainably fuels healing community and job-creation.

Solution:

Catalyze social business creation through incubating/accelerating entrepreneurs and connecting them to Thistle Farms and Homeboy Industries combined national networks of 500 organizations.

Thistle Farms and Homeboy Industries

From my perspective, TF and HI are sister and brother.

They care for women survivors recovering and healing from prostitution, trafficking, and addiction and gang-involved and previously incarcerated folks.

They both nurture extended family with those on the margins of society. They both cultivate large supportive communities and social businesses.

They each have a global network of like-hearted organizations you could be a part of:

• Thistle Farms has a national network of 96 sister organizations. They host monthly zoom gatherings, offer slack channels by topic, 2-day in-person workshops every 2 months, and bi-annual summits, the next one is in 2024. Click here to fill-out their 2 minute application.

• Homeboy Industries has a national network of 400 organizations. They triage connections of like-structured organizations, host tours, and an annual Global Homeboy Summit (July 30th-Aug. 1st, 2023 - Registration Link to Come).

If you care for people through a social business, or want to start a social business, you could benefit from being a part of their network to gang strength, empowerment, family, and strategy.

If you are interested in learning more and getting connected, please fill out this 2-minute form.

Strategy:

• Same as catalyzing a social business ecosystem (read 1-minute post)

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Similarities below:

Thistle Farms Founded: 1997 by Becca Stevens

Homeboy Industries Founded: 1988 by Father Greg Boyle, or "G"

Thistle Farms Mission: Thistle Farms is a nonprofit social enterprise dedicated to helping women survivors recover and heal from prostitution, trafficking, and addiction. We do this by providing a safe place to live, a meaningful job, and a lifelong sisterhood of support.

Homeboy Industries Mission: Homeboy Industries provides hope, training, and support to formerly gang-involved and previously incarcerated people, allowing them to redirect their lives and become contributing members of our community.

Thistle Farms Work:

Helping hundreds of women heal over the past 25 years. 2 Years of Free Housing. Healthcare and Trauma Therapy. Meaningful Employment. Advocacy and Public Policy Initiatives

Homeboy Industries Work:

Each year over 15,000 former gang members from across Los Angeles come through Homeboy Industries’ doors in an effort to make a positive change. They are welcomed into a community of mutual kinship, love, and a wide variety of services ranging from tattoo removal to anger management and parenting classes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulN0CPvftAA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5x-m0__FX4

See related article about these two orgs and leaders by Susan Packard. Creator of HGTV & the Food Network.