In this episode, Tom Vozzo sits down with Dre Comers and Hector Verdugo to talk about one of the most meaningful parts of life at Homeboy Industries: the morning meeting. Held every weekday, it’s a space where the entire community comes together to connect, reflect, and support each other.

Dre shares what it was like joining Homeboy with a background in nonprofit work, and how the culture of presence and honesty made him stay. Hector offers insight into why celebrating small wins, like birthdays or a year of sobriety, matters more than people realize.

The episode also features two moving “Thoughts of the Day” from community members. Ricky talks about returning after setbacks and learning to take the program seriously. Debrah, released after 36 years in prison, reflects on what freedom means beyond physical release.

This conversation offers a closer look at how daily rituals, real connection, and radical acceptance shape transformation at Homeboy Industries.

Key Takeaways

• Morning meetings create a space for grounding, joy, and vulnerability

• Authentic leadership at Homeboy begins with humility and compassion

• Real change often starts after failure or hesitation

• Walking away from gang life is emotionally complex and spiritual

• Homeboy always welcomes people back, no matter how many times they’ve left

• Freedom includes emotional and spiritual release, not just physical liberty

• [00:00] Introduction

• [00:27] What is morning meeting and why it matters

• [00:59] Celebrating sobriety, birthdays, and small wins

• [02:13] Anatomy of a morning meeting

• [03:29] The role of “Thought of the Day”

• [06:08] Ricky’s story: Better Late Than Never

• [08:28] Leaving your gang and the fear of starting over

• [09:58] Why Homeboy always gives people another chance

• [12:04] Debrah’s story: Reentry after 36 years incarcerated

• [14:21] Adjusting to freedom outside the prison walls

• [16:23] Unlocking the mind and heart

• [18:40] Spirituality, prayer, and protection at Homeboy

• [20:28] Letting go, digging deep, and finding your spirit

• [11:34] "It's never too late to transform. It was never too late to be loved or to love. It's really never too late to start putting yourself first." — Dre

• [16:30] "We help gang members, not gangs. We work with gang members that don't work with gangs." — Tom

• [19:09] "We don't do shame at Homeboy. We go out of our way to not have people feel shame about saying, sorry, I messed up." — Tom

• [30:44] "The spirituality at Homeboy is undeniable. Everyone is trying to transform. Everyone is digging deep into their own spirit and learning themselves." — Dre

Resources and Links

Homeboy Industries

• https://homeboyindustries.org/

• https://www.youtube.com/@HomeboyIndustries_LA/videos

• Donate: https://homeboyindustries.org/donate/donate-online/

Homeboy Media 

• https://homeboyindustries.org/social-enterprises/homeboy-media/

Hector Verdugo

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/hector-verdugo-7297a684

Dre Comers

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/dre-comers-65178541

Thomas Vozzo

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasvozzo