Youth Leadership

Youth Development Project

Our Youth Development Project serves youth ages 12 to 17 and young adults ages 18 to 24, prioritizing the needs of those impacted by incarceration and immigration, including currently and recently incarcerated youth and recent immigrants from Central America. Our services offer enrichment opportunities for youth and their families through the implementation of educational workshops, recreational activities, and youth development curriculums. El Joven Noble and Xinachtli, the Nahuatl term for “germinating seeds,” are youth development, support, and leadership enhancement programs created by the National Compadres Network to address and prevent risk behavior in adolescents. Homies Unidos has adopted these programs to integrate a culturally relevant approach to discussing identity and purpose with youth living in communities impacted by poverty and violence.

Central American Youth Leadership Conference

Since 2015, Homies Unidos has hosted the annual Central American Youth Leadership Conference, a convening of recent migrants, service providers, and human rights advocates. The convening is led by our Central American Youth Leadership Council and incorporates educational workshops, discussion panels, and resources to empower migrant youth and support their integration to our local community.

Join us May 30, 2025 for our 9th Annual Central American Youth Leadership Conference entitle “Una Comunidad Sin Miedo” (A community without fear") Our keynote speaker was Assemblyman Mark Gonzalez.

Our conference main goals look to:

● Strengthen our support for Central American immigrant youth and their families who have survived the social and economic difficulties of their country of origin and the experience of culture shock in Los Angeles communities. By creating spaces to support them in their journey of healing from the trauma they have overcome and continue to resist the anti-immigrant environment.

● Connect newly arrived Central American immigrant youth with resources and direct links to service providers that will connect them to a comprehensive referral system. Create a network of referral services that will help them obtain decent jobs, continue their education and access holistic health services to help ease their integration into our communities. Read More