HOMIES UNIDOS INC

Through our ten years of experience working with children at-risk of and involved in gang violence, we have learned that we need to educate our youth and gain rapport in order to develop them into community leaders. We begin our process with our Epiphany Project, which focuses on root causes of violence and gang activity (primary prevention) through our workshops conducted in middle schools and high schools, targeting youth before they involve themselves in destructive behavior.  Through understanding of the circumstances and environment around them, youth reach a higher level of self-awareness and personal responsibility for their actions and behaviors.  They comprehend how violence and drugs has become their outlet to cope with the issues around them, such as poverty, racial discrimination and domestic violence etc.  Through educational workshops, youth are also encourage to become involved in school activities to develop the leadership skills necessary in their future careers in the workforce.

Participants in our in-house Epiphany Project classes are offered free tattoo removal services for completion of the program. We work with youth who want their tattoos removed as part of the process of leaving a gang and/or situation of intimate partner violence because the tattoos pose a threat to their personal safety and are an obstacle to employability. Almost all of the clients are at or below the federal poverty level and many have been previously incarcerated. The Program’s integrated components help set these youth on the path to responsible, self-sufficient adulthood.  Those who have completed treatment have expressed the impact the removal of their tattoos has had upon them mentally and physically.  Homies Unidos works in collaboration with two local clinics to provide tattoo removal services to local youth and adults with visible gang-related tattoos (on their face, neck, hands, or forearms) who are pursuing employment opportunities or educational advancement.