MEALS AND MENTORING: FORMER GANG MEMBERS AND OLDER ADULTS CROSS GENERATIONAL AND CULTURAL BRIDGES. (11th November 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Corley, C; Dobberteen, D; Willis, D
• Is Part Of: Innovation in aging. Volume 2(2018)Supplement 1
• Page Start: 160
• Page End: 161
• Publication Date: 2018-11-11
• Subjects: Aging -- Periodicals; Gerontology -- Periodicals; 612.67
• DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igy023.579
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2399-5300

Abstract

Abstract: In the diverse metropolitan area of Los Angeles, where gangs have proliferated, the largest gang intervention program in the world was founded by Fr. Gregory Boyle, Homeboy Industries. Participants learn work skills in an eighteen-month program, including preparing and serving meals at The Homegirl Cafe at Homeboy headquarters. The café was the site of three meal gatherings of older adults and former gang members in small groupings. The goal was to create a bridge across generations and cultures to foster mutual mentoring. Interviews with the participants after the series of meals revealed the following themes: life course learnings, cultural connections, comfort in sharing. Among comments from the Homeboy participants was the surprise at commonalities in some life experiences, appreciation for differences and being able to talk about them openly, and having meaningful interchanges with people in a safe environment out of the range of daily experiences. The meal gatherings were part of a larger project called Cruzando Puentes ("Crossing Bridges") which is a collaboration of two universities (Fielding Graduate University and California State University, Los Angeles), Homeboy, and a retirement community in Los Angeles. Ethnographic observations included visual ethnography of Boyle Heights (historically populated by numerous gangs), and the range of programs and services for former gang members at Homeboy. The "meals and mentoring" phase suggest that by talking over meals, sharing life experiences and learning about one another, people can transcend differences and appreciate commonalities. Implications for reducing social isolation and creating a model for intergenerational interchange is discussed.