When April Acuna looks at the people who come into Project Kinship, she can’t help but see herself.

The Orange County sister agency to L.A.-based Homeboy Industries, Project Kinship is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization providing services and training to those whose lives have been impacted by incarceration, gangs and violence.

“I come from this kind of background. I would say that I would have been a perfect candidate,” said Acuna, who started at Homeboy Industries as a trainee in the 18-month program. “I was a drug addict, I was a Mom who lost custody of her children and I felt like there was no light at the end of the tunnel…”