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Greg Boyle
James Beard Award winner
- Discipline
- Other
i. Biography
Founder of Homeboy Industries, Greg Boyle was born in Los Angeles and graduated from Loyola Marymount University in 1985. He served as pastor at Dolores Mission Church in Boyle Heights from 1986 to 1992. Homeboy Bakery, an abandoned bakery repurposed to employ rival gang members baking bread, became a defining part of that work. Boyle described it plainly: "We’ll put hairnets on enemy gang members and have them bake bread, and we’ll call it Homeboy Bakery." "That was my business plan."
Coming Up
Greg Boyle trained at Loyola Marymount University. Greg went on to work as pastor at Dolores Mission Church in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles (1986–1992). Today, Greg is founder of Homeboy Industries (since 1992).
Where They Are Now
He remains the founder of Homeboy Industries. Homeboy Bakery is the signature project tied to that work, an abandoned bakery repurposed to employ rival gang members baking bread. Its blunt model is the one he described with those two lines about hairnets, enemy gang members, and bread.
Signature
Greg's signature dishes include Homeboy Bakery.
In Their Words “We’ll put hairnets on enemy gang members and have them bake bread, and we’ll call it Homeboy Bakery.”
Honors
Greg Boyle has received University of Notre Dame Laetare Medal (2017). Greg's honors include James Beard Foundation Humanitarian of the Year (2016), Laetare Medal (2017), California Hall of Fame Induction, James Irvine Foundation Leadership Award, and Bon Appétit Award, Humanitarian Category.
Profile updated July 2026
FAQ
Asked of Greg
Where did Greg Boyle train or study?
Greg Boyle trained at Loyola Marymount University.
What recognition has Greg Boyle received?
James Beard Foundation Humanitarian of the Year (2016).
