Jerry Tello is an internationally recognized authority in family strengthening, therapeutic healing, cross-cultural issues, and motivational speaking. Over the last forty years as a noted therapist, author, performer and program developer, Mr. Tello has incorporated his real life experience, together with research-based knowledge, and indigenous, culturally-based teachings, to engage all in a reality-based healing and growth-inspiring experience. Mr. Tello is the author of children's books, professional publications, culturally-based curricula, motivational CD's and other media. Mr. Tello has received numerous awards including the Ambassador of Peace Award and Presidential Crime Victims Service Award.

Jerry Tello is a father, grandfather, son, brother and relative of many. He is from a family of Mexican, Texan and Coahuiltecan roots, and was raised in the South Central/Compton areas of Los Angeles. Over the last 40 years, he has dedicated himself to the service of individuals, families, communities. He has done so by speaking to over half of a million people, and training thousands of service providers across the nation. Mr. Tello is considered an international expert in the areas of: transformational healing, men and boys of color, racial justice, and community peace and mobilization.

He is co-founder of the National Compadres Network and is currently Director of Training and Capacity Building. He has authored numerous articles, videos, and curricula addressing fatherhood, youth “rites of passage,” culturally-based family strengthening, and healing the healer. He is the author of Recovering Your Sacredness, A Father’s Love, a series of children’s books, co- editor of Family Violence and Men of Color, has served as a principal consultant for Scholastic Books on International Bilingual Literacy curriculum, and has published a series of motivational health and healing CDs. He has appeared in Time, Newsweek, Latina and Lowrider magazines. He is the recipient of numerous awards, which include the 2016 Maria Shriver’s Annual Advocate for Change award, the 2015 White House Champions of Change award, two California Governor’s Awards, the Ambassador of Peace Award presented by Rotary International, and the 2012 Presidential Crime Victims Service award, presented by President Bill Clinton and Attorney General Janet Reno.

Finally, in collaboration with the American G.I. Forum, Mr. Tello was part of an effort providing domestic violence awareness, healing, and support services to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Persian Gulf veterans and their spouses. Presently, he continues to serve families and communities directly at the Sacred Circles Center in Whittier, California and is a member of the Sacred Circles performance group, a group dedicated to community peace and healing. He is the proud father of three children: Marcos, Renee, and Emilio; and grandfather of Amara, Naiya, Greyson, Harrison, Vivienne and Elias.