An Ignoble Experiment: 12,000 steps. 10 feet of space. Meet José.

José averages about 12,000 steps a day.

Most of them happen within the same 10-foot space.

As a barista at the café at Homeboy Industries, he spends his shifts moving nonstop—making hundreds of drinks and putting in 10 to 13 hours on his feet.

But when José talks about Homeboy, the work is only part of the story.

Since 2021, we’ve been proud to support Homeboy Industries and its mission to create opportunities for formerly incarcerated and formerly gang-involved people. José doesn’t describe that opportunity as a second chance. He calls it a first chance—a chance to discover something authentic within yourself and find a community of people who want to be there.

Last month, we went back to Homeboy to catch up with José and the team.

We talked about his work, his community, and even the shoes he depends on to get through those 12,000 steps.