Nuestra Historia

For over 20 years, Homies Unidos has been a pioneer in the movement to promote peace and reduce violence in predominantly immigrant communities across Los Angeles.

It is the support of our partners and funders that has enabled us to implement community-based approaches to public safety and service that have demonstrated success in reducing violence in communities impacted by gangs and policing. Since its founding in 1998, Homies Unidos has served over 10,000 youth and adults through lifestyle recovery, tattoo removal, leadership development, and services to currently and formerly incarcerated individuals and their families.

Homies Unidos mission is to promote peace and reduce violence through collaboration in immigrant & system-impacted communities in Los Angeles & their countries of origin by empowering new immigrant leaders to become advocates for justice & equality. Our vision is to have a just and peaceful society that promotes human rights, equality, and empowerment of criminalized people within our immigrant communities.

In light of mass incarceration and mass deportation policies, Homies Unidos seeks to bring light to issues of Crimmigration and injustice against communities that are subject to criminalization based on their immigration status and identification as gang members. Our team of directly-impacted community leaders implements a range of culturally relevant programs to expose at-risk youth, currently and formerly incarcerated individuals, and their families to educational and career development opportunities, popular education, access to resources and services, leadership development, and opportunities to organize and mobilize communities to become peace builders and advocates for justice in their streets and homes.

Together, we can change the narrative about immigrant youth and communities that are labeled “criminal” before they even set foot on US soil. Homies Unidos targets at-risk youth, currently and formerly incarcerated individuals, and their families through programs and services designed to promote self-awareness, self-esteem, leadership development, recovery and rehabilitation. These curriculums and programs are now available virtually, in our office, or can be adapted for implementation in any facility.

image of homies unidos in the 90s.