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2022 Grants Challenge

The Epiphany Project

For over 20 years, Homies Unidos has been a pioneer in the movement to promote peace and reduce violence in immigrant communities across Los Angeles by implementing community-based approaches to public safety and service that has demonstrated success in reducing violence in communities impacted by gangs and policing. Since its founding in 1998, Homies Unidos has served youth and adults through lifestyle recovery, tattoo removal, leadership development, and services to currently and formerly incarcerated individuals and their families.

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What is the primary issue area that your application will impact?

Community Safety

In which areas of Los Angeles will you be directly working?

Central LA

San Gabriel Valley

In what stage of innovation is this project, program, or initiative?

Expand existing project, program, or initiative

What is your understanding of the issue that you are seeking to address?

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 to promote self-awareness, self-esteem, leadership development, recovery and rehabilitation, as well as opportunities to organize and mobilize communities to become peace builders and advocates for justice in their streets and homes.

Describe the project, program, or initiative this grant will support to address the issue.

As part of our Reentry Program, we implement the Epiphany Project curriculum, a 12-workshop series designed to support the successful reentry of those returning home from incarceration and help prevent high risk behavior amongst immigrant youth and adults impacted by the justice system, including current and former gang members. Through the use of cognitive behavioral concepts, we equip directly-impacted participants with tools and strategies to understand their decision-making and thought processes. When an individual becomes aware of the triggers and emotions that influence their actions, they are able to employ self-assessment and intervention strategies to modify their behavior. It is our goal for participants to realize their purpose and potential through exposure to resources and success strategies that include knowing their rights, understanding laws and judicial systems, exploring career opportunities, and setting goals. The curriculum consists of four phases: Awareness, Intervention, Rights, and Tools. Workshop topics include, but are not limited to, Trauma-Informed: Why Hurt People Hurt People, Self-Awareness & Leadership, Gang & Street Violence, Drugs & Alcohol, Mass Incarceration: Criminal Law & Procedure, War on Immigrants: Crimmigration & Mass Deportations, Pathways to Education, Pathways to Career Readiness, and Financial Literacy.

Describe how Los Angeles County will be different if your work is successful.

The Epiphany Project is an entrypoint for individuals reentering their communities after incarceration. Our reentry services help recent refugees and asylum seekers understand culture shock and offer mental health support through our partners, Saint Johns Well Child. Graduates of the program become a part of our criminalized immigrant support network as active community members and justice advocates. One key element of the Epiphany Project is that we subsidize the cost of tattoo removal services for participants. While removing their tattoos, we provide job readiness training to help clients research vocational trades, resume building and mock interviews. Upon program completion, clients are given employment opportunities in places where previously marginalized, and most importantly, a clean slate and a second chance to succeed in our communities. With our extensive reentry services, LA County will see a reduction in recidivism in jails and juvenile halls, reducing violence and crime.

What evidence do you have that this project, program, or initiative is or will be successful, and how will you define and measure success?

We track progress towards objectives and evaluate effectiveness and outcomes through pre-and post-surveys completed by program participants. Through feedback from program participants and various community events, we continually adjust program designs and implementation according to evolving needs of the participants and families over time. Our data sources include sign-in sheets, client intake files and our protocols include confidentiality and HIPAA guidelines. We are in the process of developing a database to include case management tracking, staff notes, and reporting. The electronic database will provide us with improved data tracking mechanisms. After the database is launched, we will facilitate a focus group with staff members for feedback on user friendliness and effectiveness at capturing reporting data. Our holistic reentry approach will reduce program participant recidivism by 75%.

Approximately how many people will be impacted by this project, program, or initiative?

Direct Impact: 50

Indirect Impact: 1,000