Priest to speak on gang intervention, healing

The Rev. Gregory Boyle, an expert on gangs and intervention approaches, will present "Tattoos on the Heart: Healing Hospitality" as part of Benedictine University's Center for Civil Leadership's Speaker Series.

Boyle's presentation will be from 3 to 4:15 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3, in the Goodwin Hall Auditorium on campus, 5700 College Road, Lisle.

Boyle is the founder and director of Homeboy Industries, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit that employs and trains hundreds of former gang members every year.

In preparation for Boyle's talk, first-year students at Benedictine read his book, "Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion," which reflects on his experiences leading Homeboy Industries and offers a call to radically welcome and love those who live on the margins of society.

Boyle's presentations for leaders about using hope as a powerful tool have made him a popular speaker. He has given commencement addresses at numerous universities and has spoken at conferences for teachers, social workers, criminal justice workers and many others about the importance of adults' attention, guidance and unconditional love in preventing youth from joining gangs.

He has won several humanitarian awards, including the California Peace Prize and Humanitarian of the Year Award from the James Beard Foundation. In 2014, he was recognized by the White House as a "Champion of Change."

Admission to his talk is free. For information, contact Jean-Marie Kauth at jkauth@ben.edu or (630) 829-6272.