Jose Osuna is the Director of External Affairs at Homeboy Industries, a position he’s had since May 2015. Prior to working in external affairs, he was the Director of Employment Services and before that he led the Solar Panel Installation Training and Certification Program at Homeboy.

Jose leads Homeboy’s external advocacy initiatives such as ‘Banning the Box’ from employment applications. These issues are important to the population served at Homeboy Industries, where up to 75% of those who work in our program and seek our services have served prison terms and have felony convictions. He works on numerous special projects, the most recent, to establish a Homeboy Alumni Network. He coordinates and directs grants outreach, working with elected officials and community leaders to search out potential and appropriate private and governmental funding.

He is uniquely qualified working in all of his Homeboy roles, and now as a leader within the organization. He first came to Homeboy as a trainee in the 18-month program. Jose had previously served 13 years in prison, and had been gang- involved since he was 13 years old. 8 years ago, Jose’s son Moises was killed due to gun violence. He uses this experience as one of the strongest motivating factors in his work at Homeboy. He’s a proud father to his surviving children, Jesse, Isabel, and Josie.