Youth Support Initiative to Launch New Hub in Cloverdale

A new youth support program, led by the Yo Bro | Yo Girl Youth Initiative (YBYG), is set to open a youth hub in Cloverdale, British Columbia, in early 2026. The organization, which focuses on youth-violence prevention, aims to provide critical services and support to local young people, potentially impacting up to 1,000 youths in the area.

Joe Calendino, co-founder and executive director of YBYG, expressed enthusiasm about the initiative, stating that the hub will create a safe environment for youth to engage in various activities. “We will be providing opportunities for children to have a safe place to come to,” Calendino said. Among the offerings will be self-defense and wrestling programs, along with dedicated spaces for recreational activities. A key component will include one-on-one support for children who may feel disconnected from their school environments.

The hub will offer an array of services tailored to young people facing social, academic, and personal challenges. These services will encompass mentorship, school and community-based outreach, culturally informed support, recreational programs, and pathways to employment and leadership. YBYG collaborates closely with local schools and the school district to identify youths in need of assistance, subsequently integrating them into their Youth Mentor Empowerment Team, or YMET.

Calendino explained, “In YMET, we provide a one-to-one worker with a child. So we would bring that child to the hub.” He emphasized that this is where the transformative work truly begins, as YBYG becomes actively involved in the child’s life. He highlighted the importance of guiding young people away from criminal activities, which he believes typically lead to three outcomes: addiction, incarceration, or death.

The organization has a unique background, as Calendino is a former member of the Hells Angels. He co-founded YBYG with Kevin Torkiv, who was then an officer in an anti-gang unit. Their partnership emerged from a pivotal moment when Calendino, during his time in prison, sought help from Torkiv, a former high school classmate. Over the last 15 years, their collaboration has supported thousands of youths across Canada.

In addition to YMET, YBYG promotes awareness regarding drug, gang, and violence prevention through hundreds of presentations in schools and communities nationwide each year. The organization recently received $1.5 million from the Government of Canada through the Crime Prevention Action Fund to support the establishment of the Youth Engagement Hub. This funding marks the largest financial commitment in YBYG’s history and will sustain the project for five years, from 2026 to the end of 2030.

Calendino expressed gratitude for the federal support, stating, “We are grateful for this federal commitment, which recognizes the impact of organizations like YBYG and reinforces the importance of early intervention and prevention, enabling us to expand vital supports for youth in Surrey.”

For more information about the initiative and its programs, visit ybyg.ca.