Urban Radish Partners with Homeboy Industries to Develop Store Workforce

LOS ANGELES - May 6, 2013 - PRLog -- URBAN RADISH® (https://www.facebook.com/UrbanRadish) the community market and eatery set to open in the Downtown Los Angeles Arts District this coming May- announced today that they will be engaging in a long-term partnership with Homeboy Industries (http://www.homeboyindustries.org/)- a non-profit organization that assists high risk, formerly gang-involved men and women with a continuum of services and programs including job training.  
Father Gregory Boyle founded the organization in 1988 with intent of creating a viable alternative for those looking to escape the cycle of gang violence. Today, Homeboy Industries is the nation’s largest gang-intervention program, assisting approximately 12,000 people each year through services such as tattoo removal, general equivalency diploma certification and by learning job skills through social enterprises such as Homeboy Diner and Homeboy Silkscreen.

Urban Radish will be tapping into the pool of individuals who have undergone job training, to staff their store with a diverse range of positions from stock clerk to assistant cheesemonger. Many of the positions will come from the Homegirl Café and Homeboy Bakery where participants have received intensive training in both restaurant services and the culinary arts.

Keri Aivazis, co-owner of Urban Radish says, “The men and women from Homeboy Industries have amazed me with their dedication to their craft as well as their commitment to their future. We are excited to have the opportunity to work with these bright individuals and continue to help them grow in their professions.”

A mission of Urban Radish is to provide food education to its customers and inspire them through a shared love of food. It is now the owners’ intent to extend this mission to their employees whom they view as instrumental in creating a personable shopping experience- a cornerstone of the store’s future success.

In addition to hiring men and women from Homeboy, Urban Radish has hired seasoned experts to lead the butchery and produce departments, as well as the deli where specialty cheeses and cured meats will be featured. It is the owners’ hope that the individuals from Homeboy will serve as apprentices in each of these roles, in addition to servicing the core needs of the store such as point-of-sale and inventory management. “All our employees will be well versed on the products we carry,” says co-owner, Carolyn Paxton, ” We want a personable shopping experience in which customers feel free to ask questions of anyone that works there.”

Jose Osuna, Director of Employment Services for Homeboy said, “the on-site education Urban Radish will provide for the men and women of Homeboy, is a trajectory for professional success.” Homeboy founder, Father Gregory Boyle’s mantra “nothing stops a bullet like a job” has given hope to generations of individuals looking to break the cycle of violence. This mantra will now become a philosophy at Urban Radish, which aims to aid in the transformation of downtown LA while still honoring its past.

URBAN RADISH
Urban Radish is a farm fresh community market rooted in tradition offering seasonal fresh produce, high quality meats and seafood, dairy and other daily necessities. The market is being designed around the unique lifestyle of city dwellers whose shopping preferences have shifted from shopping major grocery chains to wanting a more personal experience, farmer’s market freshness, and a high quality-to-value priced offering.

Media Contact:
MacKenzie Aivazis
mackenzie.aivazis@urban-radish.com