Our Board of Directors

Chairperson

Salvatore’s professional background includes working with youth in a residential, community and shelter settings. His professional experience includes case management, program development, philanthropy, trauma-informed practice, and community development. Additionally, he co-hosts on the CYC Podcast having monthly segments on social justice and advocacy. He has a particular skill in the design, development, and implementation of programs taking a youth-centred and informed approach.  Salvatore has a Bachelor’s in Child and Youth Care and a Master’s Degree in Public Policy, Administration and Law. Salvatore is passionate about youth-centred programming and advocating with young people. He is excited to be working with Youth Rising Above and the young people we work wit

Executive Director & Founder

Jonathan has over a decade of leadership experience working in youth development programs and has developed a strong passion and desire towards serving underprivileged and marginalized young populations. He believes remarkable results can be achieved when underserved populations are provided meaningful, supportive and life changing programming opportunities. Jonathan also believes in the importance of collaborative community support and has a keen interest in engaging with stakeholders across a variety of sectors. 

Vice Chairperson

Irwin has 40 years of experience working with young people marginalized from their rights. For over 20 years he managed the Pape Adolescent Resource Centre, an award winning brave space serving youth in and from care living on their own in the Greater Toronto Area. He was the Director of Service at Central Toronto Youth Services a children's mental health centre in downtown Toronto. He has worked in Japan, Jamaica, India and Ukraine supporting the development of a variety of youth services and system reforms. From 2008-2019 Irwin was Ontario's Child Advocate reporting to the Ontario Legislature "partnering with children and youth to bring their issues forward" as described in his guiding legislation. Irwin is the proud father to two young boys living with his wife in Toronto. 

Director

Omar is a social scientist and an educator who specializes in community development and the civic participation of traditionally marginalized populations. Omar has ample experience working with young people and studying the services available to immigrant youth. Omar’s desire to work with youth at risk comes from his own experience growing up as a young immigrant in Toronto and from his deep conviction in the capacity of young people to overcome barriers and to flourish as creative individuals. It is this conviction in the potential of youth at risk that inspired Omar to join the board of Youth Rising Above. Omar has a multidisciplinary academic background and holds a PhD in Policy Studies from Ryerson University. Omar sees his work as a professor with university and college students as part of his commitment in trying to support young people to find their own path of success. 

Director

Kartik is currently a Risk Management Professional with a major bank in Canada. Prior to his current role, he lived and worked in the UAE for a few years. During his youth, Kartik was heavily involved in the Royal Canadian Air Cadets, a youth development program developed by the Department of National Defence in Canada. Over the years, Kartik has always been involved with non-profit organizations supporting both animals, and people in the UAE, India and Canada. As part of his current work, he is part of the internal Employee Giving Campaign (volunteer basis) to raise awareness about the importance of charitable contributions by those who feel they are capable of doing so. As an immigrant to Canada at the age of 10 in a single mother household, Kartik has seen first hand how important a sense of direction and purpose can play in the life of a young person. Being a beneficiary of specialized support during his formative adolescent years, Kartik hopes to use his experience with other non-profit organizations, and in Governance/Risk Management, to give back to the community in which he grew up.  

Director 

 Heather has an academic background in humanities, holding a Master’s Degree in Criminology from the University of Toronto, and professional experience in hospitality and management. She has a variety of interests including youth criminal justice, human rights, discrimination, and evolving privacy rights in the digital age. Heather constantly seeks to learn from peers and mentors from different backgrounds to build a more open-minded, cohesive community. She is a believer in widening opportunities for all and thinks youth especially can benefit from programming, mentorship, and broader compassionate networks. Heather is excited about assisting in an organization dedicated to supporting marginalized youth in achieving their goals and pursuing their interests..