Established 1996-2006 Founder James Holub, S.J. Website Homeboyz | Purpose Employment for youth Affiliations Jesuit, HBI Consulting Staff 25 | |
Location 731 W. Washington St.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin | ||
Homeboyz Interactive was a web development business in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, founded by a Jesuit brother in 1996 to transform gang members into productive workers.
History
Brother James Holub, S.J., asked gang members in South Milwaukee how they could be helped, to break the cycle of poverty and violence. The youth suggested that they be trained for work they found exciting. It must lead to jobs that paid at least the minimum wage, and computer skills seemed the most attractive. And so Homeboyz Interactive was established to prepare professionals in web design, application development, and PC/network support.
This non-profit outfit spawned HBI Consulting which did web design and handles recruiting, training, and job placement. It turned out more than 20 teachers yearly for computer and computer network programs for high schools and other clients as well as for computer service providers. Some graduates of the program continued their education, some founded their own business, and others continued working at HBI.
The Economist described this effort as "turning thugs into programmers" on Milwaukee's South Side, which has proportionally twice as many murders as New York. Holub had "buried his 28th gang member" before he implemented the Homeboyz plan, with the understanding that “nothing stops a bullet like a job.”
The programs would take in about 80 prospects a year to kick the drug habit and then hold a job while studying for the high school equivalency test, before deciding in which direction to go. Most accepted a job or went on to community college but about 25 entered the Homeboyz training for computer programmers. HBI Consulting gave trainees work experience before they took a job outside in website development, some with GE Medical, Toyota Forklift, Northwestern Mutual Life, Verizon Wireless or BP. Of first 150 graduates of this program none lost their job; their average pay after two years was $63,000. Some preferred to return to full-time work at HBI. Work of its trainees was highlighted in the Milwaukee Business Journal.
Some came to Homeboyz through the criminal courts or Department of Corrections. A Jesuit Volunteer (JV) was assigned to work with the program, and to add a spiritual dimension through regular reflection together. Gradually the market began prioritizing graphic design and flash images more than site construction. After 2006 Homeboyz HBI morphed into several spinoffs and ceased to exist as a separate entity.