10: From Biker Gangs & Drug Addiction to helping Kids Heal & Grow // The Story of Joe Calendino
Background:
Drugs, gangs, and violence represent the dark side of society and have taken many young lives on a destructive path. Back in the early 80’s one of those lives was Joe Calendino. Drug use started at age 14, involvement in gangs a year later, and by the time he left high school, Joe had a record of over 300 fights, according to his famed drama teacher.
Joe’s adult life became marked with time as a full patch Hell’s Angel and a full-blown drug addict, an addiction that almost led to his death in 2006. Fortunately, from that day forward, events would transpire to transform Joe’s life for the better.
Through his lived experiences, Joe has the unique ability to connect with youth to educate, inspire, and mentor them to avoid the same path he took. It is the reason why the Yo Bro Yo Girl Youth Initiative exists, and why its programs are so essential in today’s urban society, riddled by the perils of drugs, gangs and violence.
This Episode Brought to You By:
- Our Place is an inner-city community centre serving Greater Victoria’s most vulnerable: working poor, impoverished elderly, mentally and physically challenged, addicted and the homeless. Individuals and businesses provide the majority of financial support for our programs and services. Our Place serves over 1,600 meals per day, and provides hot showers, free clothing, counseling and outreach services, plus 45 transitional housing units. Most importantly, we provide a sense of hope and belonging to our neighbours in need. To learn more about Our Place Society & how you can assist, please visit their website: OurPlaceSociety.com.
Time-Stamped Show Notes:
- 4:48 At a very young age, Joe was already associated with gangs and drugs. He became a drug addict when he was 21.
- 6:31 Joe warns that the age category of kids doing drugs have been getting younger.
- 8:20 His father was suffering from schizophrenia, which greatly affected Joe while he was growing up. He became angry with his father.
- 10:52 Joe shares the story of how he started doing drugs at such a young age and how he got cleaned and became an entrepreneur.
- 12:58 Even though he had a family and a successful business, he missed his old lifestyle and eventually began doing drugs again.
- 15:27 After being kicked out from Hell’s Angels, he continued his downward spiral into addiction. He lost everything, his house, money, and business.
- 20:57 Joe explains what Yo Bro / Yo Girl Youth Initiative does and how they help support children.
- 23:25 He met a lady who has a lot of experience working with school districts. She eventually became Joe’s wife.
- 24:12 He didn’t have any grudge or ill-feeling towards the Hell’s Angels.
- 28:24 A number of kids in the Youth Initiative have their success stories and became good people in the community.
- 29:53 The programs in Yo Bro / Yo Girl are very open, accepting, and equality-based. Joe enumerates some of the programs within YBYG.
- 31:42 Joe explains what a kid would expect going into the YBYG Youth Initiative program.
- 35:08 According to Joe and Eric, there are several indicators that could lead to the snapping of a child.
- 37:49 They have a lot of key supporters, donors, and institutions that allow their group to provide support to the children in their program.
This Episode Sponsored By:
- 21:20 Our Place is an inner-city community centre serving Greater Victoria’s most vulnerable: working poor, impoverished elderly, mentally and physically challenged, addicted and the homeless. Individuals and businesses provide the majority of financial support for our programs and services. Our Place serves over 1,600 meals per day, and provides hot showers, free clothing, counseling and outreach services, plus 45 transitional housing units. Most importantly, we provide a sense of hope and belonging to our neighbours in need. To learn more about Our Place Society & how you can assist, please visit their website: OurPlaceSociety.com.
- 37:19 Joe Calendino and his Yo Bro / Yo Girl Youth Initiative nurtures skills, attitudes, and beliefs that help young people face life’s challenges with confidence. Please check out the Yo Bro / Yo Girl Youth Foundation Group at www.YBYG.ca.
Key Point from the Interview:
- “For those struggling with addiction, I would highly recommend if they have the supports available, that they take on those supports because there are people willing to help.”
- “And sometimes it’s not about us talking, it needs to be about us listening. To be there for them, to understand them.”
