Our Team

Fathers Across Cultures (FAC) was established in 2009, by Rev. Sky Starr and concerned residents, in response to the need for positive male role models in the home and community, which has adverse effects on the behaviour and attitude of young men and fathers-to-be.

Out Of Bounds Grief Support Services have partnered to support and empower fathers in our community. Mentorship programs for men and young men (13+) as well as an annual Father’s celebration will be organized through the Fathers Across Cultures Initiative which is managed by Rev. Sky Starr Director of Out of Bounds Grief Support.

We are grateful to the Student and Staff volunteers from Newtonbrook & Secondary School who continue to lend their time, talents and energy to our events and initiatives in the community.

Fathers Across Cultures (FAC) welcomes new volunteers. We are looking for reliable, hard-working, self-starting, independent, enthusiastic students who are excited about our community initiatives and who want to be among the next generation of community leaders with a caring heart. For more information about how you can become involved please download our FAC Volunteer Criteria.pdf.

Special thanks to out FAC Student Volunteer Coordinators:
FAC Club at Newtonbrook – Staff Advisor Ms. Donna Blanco

Rev. Sky Starr

Founder / Executive Director Of OOB

A resident of Jane/Finch community for 43 years, Rev. Sky was the Co-Chair of Jane/Finch Crisis Support Network for 3 years and is a first responder to crisis.

She is a marriage, family, and grief therapist who holds a Master’s degree in Psychology and a Bachelor’s degree in Community and Religious studies.

Rev. Sky is an educator, consultant, advocate, a former nurse, teacher and business owner and an avid stakeholder in her community.

She was instrumental in the formation of a crisis network team in the community where she provides compassionate, creative care for those who are traumatized by violence. She works with schools and community organizations from a unique trans-cultural perspective. Her work and services include group facilitation, grief & trauma-focused training, workshops, restorative justice mediation, therapeutic intervention, mentorship, lecturing at universities, and emotional intelligence training to youth, schools and the wider community.

She was recognized by CBC TV as a 2010 national “Champion of Change” in Jane and Finch community, by the federal government with the Queen Diamond Jubilee Award in 2012, and as a Role Model and Community Ambassador by Black Canadians, 2014.

Melinda Harris

Chair

Currently the Chair of the Board of Directors, Melinda Harris has been involved with Out of Bounds since its creation and contributed in a variety of roles, both on and off the board.

As the Executive Coordinator to the Finance Director with the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services, Melinda is a collaborative leader and seasoned administrative professional. She holds a certificate in Business French and Translation from the Raymond Chang Continuing School of Education, Ryerson University.

In addition to volunteering for Out of Bounds, she is an active member with Toastmasters International. She is a founding member of the only bilingual Toastmasters club in the Toronto area. Aside from honing her public speaking skills, Melinda has also held leadership roles within the club such as President, Vice President of Education and Secretary. She is currently her club’s Vice President of Membership. Melinda has also represented her club over the years in a number of public speaking contests.

Melinda has a passion for music, writing and the French language. She is (almost) always trying to improve her guitar playing skills. Melinda lives in Toronto with her 14-year-old son.

Jacky Au Duong

Board Member

Jacky Au Duong joined Out of Bounds in June 2018 as a Board member. With an undergraduate and master’s degree in communication, Jacky brings a breadth of knowledge, experience, and expertise in marketing, design, and communication. 

As a project coordinator at Ryerson University, he works closely with researchers to develop, implement, and manage community engagement strategies. Through his work, Jacky provides opportunities for students looking to develop their skills and portfolio in marketing and communication. He is passionate about empowering youth through professional development, continuous learning, and community involvement. 

Jacky grew up in the Jane and Finch community and started volunteering at Oakdale Park Community Centre in Grade 7. Since then, he has held numerous volunteer leadership positions, including serving as the Vice President of the Arts Student Union at the University of Waterloo and the inaugural President of the Professional Communication Alumni Association at Ryerson University.

He looks forward to giving back to his community through Out of Bounds and is eager to volunteer his expertise and knowledge.

Garcia Bartley

Treasurer

Our youngest member of the board is a former student of York University – Schulich School of Business, where she completed a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), Accounting.

As a trained Facilitator, Garcia has successfully completed the Introductory level of Trauma-Focused training provided by OOB and she shares the knowledge gained with others by participating in monthly programs given by OOB.

Garcia currently works as a staff accountant at Ernst & Young LLP where she is committed to developing an in-depth knowledge of audit and financial reporting. Her portfolio describes her as a dependable, hard-working, and enthusiastic individual who is currently en route on the journey of becoming a CPA and a better human being.

Family and community rank high on her priority list as Garcia strives to be an example at home and a role model in the community where she loves to volunteer.

Kevin Junior

Board Member

Kevin Junor brings over three decades of leadership in the Canadian Armed Forces and the Ontario Public Service to our team. He is a change management champion and has demonstrated this as a role model in the community.

He has been recognized for his leadership with various awards including the Order of Military Merit and the Harry Jerome Professional Excellence Award. Kevin has held various volunteer positions including the Chair of the Provincial Alliance Credit Union Board of Directors.

As a widely-traveled decision-maker, Kevin’s most significant achievement is his military deployment to Sierra Leone as a senior military advisor. For relaxation, Kevin enjoys spending time with his family while learning to play golf.

Eltisha Wright-Smith joined Out of Bounds in June 2018 as a board member. She started as a volunteer with Out of Bounds at the beginning of 2018 and has helped with event coordination for OOB’s Victims and Survivors of Crime Week.

With her Undergraduate Degree in Criminology and Justice Studies, she is currently working on her Masters in the field of Criminology as well. She is employed as a Teaching Assistant at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology as well as a Fraud Agent with TD Canada Trust. Eltisha grew up in the Malvern area and has been impacted by gun violence, which fuels her passion to contribute to Out of Bounds.

Nick Reid

Board Member

Nick Reid is the Executive Director of Ryerson Urban Water (RUW), a collective of 44 Ryerson University researchers who share common concerns about water in the urban environment. Formerly he was Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at the Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA) and was responsible for the day to day operations of Peel Region’s 4 main Water and Wastewater plants serving over 1.2 million residents.

In addition to Out Of Bounds, Nick volunteers as a Board Member at the Ontario Water Works Association and also with the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council (TRIEC). TRIEC recently recognized Nick as a 10-time mentor in helping professionals from other countries adjust to Ontario’s business, government and social practices.

Nick is a science graduate of Trent University.