On April 27, 2024, Prof. Sean Kennedy (LMU '86, LLS '89), Kaplan and Feldman Executive Director of Loyola Law School's Center for Juvenile Law and Policy, received the distinguished Community Award at the 2024 Lo Máximo Gala hosted by Homeboy Industries.
"I am honored to be receiving the Community Award from Homeboy Industries, the largest gang rehabilitation program in the world. I receive this award on behalf of the amazing faculty and staff at Loyola Law School's Center for Juvenile Law and Policy, who work tirelessly alongside me to foster systemic reform of the juvenile justice system and advocate for our justice-involved youth. This award really belongs to the graduates of the Independent Forensic Gang Expert College, who are using their personal experiences to change the courtroom narrative around gangs. I am honored to receive this award for them," said Kennedy.
The Lo Máximo Gala is an annual celebration of kinship, community, and the extraordinary individuals who have transformed their lives through Homeboy’s nationally recognized reentry program. The event took place on April 27, 2024, at the JW Marriott LA Live in Los Angeles. Jane Fonda was this year's host, with guest appearances by world-renowned journalist Lisa Ling and actor and philanthropist Rainn Wilson. Entrepreneur and activist Kim Kardashian, was also recognized as the Kinship Honoree for her commitment to criminal justice reform.
Through the Center for Juvenile Law and Policy, law students are trained to holistically represent gang-involved youth in juvenile proceedings. As a solution to “gang enhancements” that were widely used to secure extreme sentences for juveniles, Sean founded the Independent Forensic Gang Expert College to train system-impacted people with lived experience to testify in court on behalf of youth accused of gang involvement. The program educates participants for courtroom testimony, presentence advocacy, and sentencing mitigation.
