Underwings Praxis was founded in 2003 by then-freshman Colin Gilbert. The inspiration for Underwings derives from the successful work of Father Greg Boyle, SJ, former pastor of Dolores Mission Church who, in 1988, founded Homeboy Industries--the area’s most successful program to curb the growth of gangs and violence. The name “Underwings Praxis” came from our club’s quest to actively take the Boyle Heights youth “under our wings” in the hope that we may provide for them a more hopeful vision of their future.
Underwings began at first as solely an after-school program at Dolores Mission School in the impoverished neighborhood of Boyle Heights. Two years into the program, the mission of the Underwings Praxis Organization expanded from that of just taking youth “under our wings” to taking Dolores Mission under our wings. Three more sites were added in addition to ASP, including: Base (Christian Base Communities); Guadalupe Homeless Project; and Homeboy Industries. Each site revolves around a social justice issue:​
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Gang Violence in East LA / Restorative Justice (Homeboy Industries)
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Immigration Issues and Homelessness (Guadalupe Homeless Project)
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Community Organizing Issues (Christian Base Communities)
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Children and Education in Boyle Heights (After School Program)
In 2013, student Amore Alvarenga created an Art Therapy program for the men of the Guadalupe Homeless Project called Artes sin Fronteras--Art without Borders. In this program, members express their thoughts visually on a selected topic of the week. This site saw great success, and in Fall 2014 an art exhibit was held to celebrate the Guadalupe Homeless Project’s art.
