Joe Calendino Author

Joe Calendino is a former Hells Angel Nomad and the co-founder and Executive Director of Yo Bro Yo Girl Youth Initiative. A recovering addict, he has made it his life's mission to support at-risk youth through programs designed to prevent them from following a path of gangs, drugs, and violence. In 2014, Calendino was honoured for his work with the Courage to Come Back Award from Coast Mental Health. Along with a business degree, Calendino holds a Substance Use Certificate from the Justice Institute of British Columbia. He published his first memoir, To Hell and Back, in 2017. Gary Little is a writer and life-long educator who has served as a teacher, counsellor, principal, Associate Superintendent of Schools, Vancouver School Board, and Director of International Baccalaureate Educator Programs at the Faculty of Education, University of British Columbia. Little has also contributed his expertise as Board Member of Yo Bro Yo Girl Youth Initiative, President of the Vancouver Counsellors' Association, and President of the Vancouver Association of Secondary School Administrators. Little was Joe Calendino's high school counsellor at Templeton Secondary School in Vancouver, and is also co-author of Calendino's first book, To Hell and Back.