A Cause for Kinship: Why Advocacy Matters
Fabian Garcia Fabian is currently Director of Government Relations at Homeboy Industries. Homeboy Industries provides hope, training, and support to formerly gang-involved and previously incarcerated men and women. Homeboy Industries is the largest re-entry program in the world and employs over 200 trainees a year. Prior to transitioning to Homeboy Industries, Fabian served as Senior Regional Program Coordinator for the Mayor’s Office of Gang Reduction and Youth Development (GRYD). Fabian played an instrumental role in the development of the City’s Prevention, Intervention, Re-entry, and Tattoo Removal Programs. Additionally, Fabian was integral developing and implementing strategies to increase police legitimacy and community trust. Fabian earned a B.A. from UC Santa Barbara in Chicano Studies and Minor in Philosophy with an emphasis on Ethics and Public Policy. He has worked for the MALDEF and NALEO. Fabian has dedicated himself to serving the traditionally underserved communities and creating opportunities for closing the inequality gaps.
Jessica Sanchez Jessica is currently the Government Relations Assistant at Homeboy Industries. Homeboy industries provides hope, training and support to formerly involved and previously incarcerated men and women. Homeboy Industries is the largest re-entry program in the world and employs over 200 trainees a year. Jessica was raised in South Central Los Angeles where she experienced the unique dynamics of growing up in that community. Jessica believes, no matter how hard life was, it was always worth fighting for a better one. Jessica arrived at Homeboy Industries seeking a second chance and opportunity to grow and learn. She has participated in Homeboy Industries’ 18-month program and is a mentor and leader in the organization. As part of the Government Relations team, Jessica is helping lead the Homeboy Industries Local Organizing Committee (LOC) which seeks to identify and act on advocacy needs, provides civic engagement education opportunities and maintains relationships with key decision makers. Jessica is a graduated of the Initiate Justice – Institute of Impacted Leaders and plans on continuing growing her advocacy skills and impact.
Event Timeslots (1)
Workshops Session I
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Joshua Tree
At Homeboy, advocacy means a connection to community and government through education, the formation and commitment to a local organizing committee (LOC), policy work, development of skills and training for trainees and staff, testimony sharing and representation, engagement and civic connection. This session will share an overview of Homeboy’s intentional approach to advocacy, looking at our short, mid, and long-term strategies and also our connection to local, state and federal measures and laws that directly affect the population/s we serve.