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Friday, October 28, 2011

The Definition of Family

Jose (center) at this year's Lo Maximo

Every morning before we start work, someone gives the "thought of the day." Jose Rodriguez had the thought today, his last day of work at Homeboy Industries before starting at Project 180 next week as a case manager.

Months ago, before Jose was interviewing for his new job, he sat down and told us his story. This is it.

"I was born and raised in South Central with no father, I never met him, and my mom was very abusive. Every time she had a man, a boyfriend, she would drop me off with relatives. I never had a good relationship with my mom. My room was always a small closet.

I started being booked and released at age 9 for assault, breaking and entering, vandalism. I was first in Juvenile Hall at age 11. Juvenile Hall was better than home: I had three meals a day and it gave me a break from my mom. It gave me a break from the abuse. She would use an extension cord. Sometimes I wore three shirts to school so no one could see the blood and scars that I had on my back.

My first use of drugs was at age 8 when I tried alcohol. It progressed to sniffing paint and glue and then crack, pcp and heroin. When I was actually jumped into a gang at age 12 it was nothing compared to the abuse I got from my mom.

I was homeless because no one wanted me around. I went from friend's house to friend's house. Incarceration was okay, it was a roof over my head. I had two daughters. I went to jail and when I came out I went deeper and deeper into my drug use. My family was homeless as a result of my drug use. My fiance left me, she could not continue to see me getting high and have me around my daughters. Nothing was more important to me than getting high.

I ended up living on skid row in downtown Los Angeles, behind a dumpster. I was on the street for two years, during which time I did not see my kids.

Five years ago, I went to my first NA meeting. My life has been good because of the choice of getting clean. I was invited to speak at an NA meeting at Homeboy. When I walked in, I saw many guys that I had done time with, got loaded with and gang banged against.

Homeboy was a place that welcomed me. I could not find work or a job and I stayed around Homeboy, coming to all the classes: parenting, anger management, and substance abuse. Someone asked me if I wanted a job, and I said yes. We went to talk to Father Greg. I didn't want to talk to Father Greg; I was resistant to meet him because of what he gives people, true love. G is too nice and I was not sure how to receive him.

G said 'my son, where have you been all my life?' the power of this moment made me feel like I was home. That is as real as it gets. He asked me if I wanted to work for him and be part of his family. I knew that I wanted to be at Homeboy and have been here ever since that moment.

Homeboy is my family, and it has taught me what a family should be. I've become a friend, a father to my daughters, and a role model because other people here have taught me how to be these things. My ultimate goal or something I would like to do is to be a case manager because I can help people. I want to show people in need that if I can do it, they can do it."

Today, Jose says he's learned that change takes real "action"- by working on himself, his fears, and his discomfort with letting people in, he began to change. From his friends at Homeboy, he learned how to be a good father. From his former enemies, he learned friendship. "I never thought that I would carry the casket of someone who used to be my enemy at his funeral."From the homies that passed while he was working here, he learned laughter and loss. Today, Jose says, he's learned that "it's not what you've got, but what you've got to give." Jose closed by sharing the definition of family that he looked up in the dictionary: "a person having kinship with another or others." Jose will always be our family, and we wish him more than luck!

Jose on his last day of work with one of his heroes, Dolores Huerta

7 comments:

  1. Bravo Jose, many blessings on your new work. Thank you for giving of yourself!

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  2. Right on, Jose! You have great gifts to give, and I believe in you! have a great time over there with the great people at P180, and enjoy returning to visit the Homeboy office when you can!
    -- Mario Prietto

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  3. The folks at Project 180 are truly blessed to have found you, Jose. Best wishes for your continued success.

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  4. STAY FOCUS ON WHAT YOU DO ALWAYS REMEMBER WHAT YOU CAME FROM OKAY GOD LOVES YOU AND ALL YOUR FAMILY HOMEBOY

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  5. I went through a lot of the same things & want to say I'm glad you took hold of your life & became the person God intended you to be.. Hope he continues to bless you in all yuor future endeavors. Sincerely Vernise

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  6. Love this positive outcome! If Jose can do it, many can follow his footsteps! God bless him for reaching out and turning his life around!

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  7. You r doing a great Job, Want to share this closed group I have done in Memory of my son who was murdered thru gang violence, no one like to talk about there grief cos it was gang realted, I hope u can share and this is a place where we can remember them..Pleaase share whoever migt need this to heal.. Janet Garcia God Bless
    https://www.facebook.com/groups/186560718135991/

    Unsolved/Solved Murders due to gang violence~

    Dedicated~
    To providing information, support, and friendship to persons who have experienced the death of a loved one through the violent act of murder Share Sorrow…..Share Strength

    Mission: To restore a sense of hope and to provide a pathway to well-being to those who have lost a loved one to murder thru gang violence ...

    About~
    In Memory of those passed because of a gang violence.

    Mission~
    Victims is dedicated to providing an secret emotionally supporting place for all of those morning or wanting to positively remember the life of a homicide victim thru gang violence...

    Description~
    We are another shoulder to lean on after the loss of your loved one. There is always someone to talk at Join us and tell us about your loved one. For thru gang violence people turn there eyes away and dont understand what we have gone thru...
    A place were loved ones can gather & Receive the much needed Emotional support, Love & most importantly the inspiration to carry on. Losing a loved one to a Violent crime is unlike any other Loss we have ever experienced, Each one of us now belongs to a club we never in our worst nightmare wanted to belong to. If you have lost a loved one to Gang Violence you should not be on this journey alone...Join us on this Journey of healing and to have a voice for our love ones...

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