Father Greg Boyle to explore faith and community as visiting practitioner

February 1-5, Father Greg Boyle, more familiarly known as “Father G,” will be a visiting Kenan Practitioner in Residence with Religions and Public Life at KIE. Fr. Boyle is Executive Director of Homeboy Industries, the largest and most successful gang intervention, rehabilitation and re-entry program in the world (operating in Los Angeles, CA). In 1988, members of the Dolores Mission Church and Father G found a few caring business owners willing to hire former gang members and “Jobs for a Future” was created. Thousands of young people have since walked through the doors of Homeboy Industries looking for a second chance, and finding community.

During his campus stay, he will engage students, faculty, and the community about his work, motivated by the question: “Can we improve the health and safety of our community through jobs and education rather than through suppression and incarceration?”

While at Duke, Father G will be meeting with a variety of students and campus groups, including a Kenan Do Lunch event open to all undergraduates (RSVP required), and a breakfast on “social enterprise and the power of compassion” with the Duke Innovation & Entrepreneurship Initiative. He will also participate in a panel discussion on Thursday, February 4 at the Criminal Justice Resource Center downtown, organized by Immaculate Conception Catholic Church (email drew.doll@durhamcosa.org for more information).

Religions and Public Life at KIE is hosting a public talk, “Be Fearless for Me: Courage and the Gospel Marginalized,” on Wednesday, February 3 in Gross Hall 107 (West Campus) beginning at 6:00pm.