Our Team

Heather Cannon, a lifelong resident of Minnesota, had the opportunity to live and volunteer in Liberia. She saw firsthand how Children and Youth were hungry to learn. She volunteered with local NGOs and noticed how hard they worked to help their people. This led to her partnering with Kelvin to found Uniting Distant Stars to ensure a Liberia-centered approach. She, too, has gained some skills throughout her life and teaches aspiring volunteers about bookkeeping, social media, and other ways to support the organization. Heather graduated with an individualized degree in culture and legal studies from Metro State University. She currently works as a tax manager at US Bank in the global corporate trust.

Kelvin Fomba, a Liberian raised by a single mother who experienced many educational disruptions, wanted to help Children and Mothers not suffer as he and his Mom did. He wanted to create a pathway for children and young adults to receive an education and learn trade skills to support themselves and their families. Kelvin learned and developed many trade skills throughout his life and earned his bachelor’s degree in geology in 2023 from the University of Liberia. Over the decades, he has trained many young people skills in driving, auto mechanics, welding, computers, and more. He is dedicated to sharing knowledge and teaching young people who want to better their lives. He is a hands-on co-founder and director who employs the feedback from the community and youth in developing our programs.

Rachel Smith Jahnz has been working on the UDS website for the past eight years, creating designs that make the maximum impact for the school, surpassing fundraising goals, and making UDS's online presence a joy to use!
Rachel has eight years working in User Experience Design and Research across financial, healthcare, nonprofit industries, as well as in the Federal Government.

Adam is an international non-profit professional with a background in politics and international relations. A native to Minnesota, Adam earned his BA in political science and international studies with an emphasis on multicultural politics and refugee issues from the University of Minnesota Duluth.

He has been a member and supporter of multiple organizations in the Twin Cities, including the Minnesota International NGO Network (MINN) where he has worked on several engagement projects. He also taught in South Korea as an English teacher at a private school in 2014/2015.

He lives in Minneapolis, enjoys photography, and is an avid traveler who has visited 17 countries. Adam joined the board in 2016 after initially becoming involved with Uniting Distant Stars as a member of the fundraising committee. He looks forward to helping expand educational opportunities to young people who want to learn. He was installed at the board treasurer in April 2016.

Paul Ostrow currently serves as an Assistant Anoka County Attorney in the criminal division. Prior to his current position, He served three terms on the Minneapolis City Council from 1998-2009 representing northeast Minneapolis.
Paul also served as Council President from 1998-2009 and in leadership on many boards and commissions including the League of Minnesota Cities, the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization, and the Hennepin County Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee.
He is a volunteer board member of the Civic Caucus, the Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association, and the Minnesota Committee on Government Information and also serves as co-chair of No Labels Minnesota.
Paul visited Liberia in December 2018 and assisted in the creation of an NGO--CAST (Collaborative Action for Social Transformation)--in Liberia dedicated to the empowerment of young women in Bong County. He joined UDS to continue to support the development of young people in Liberia.
He lives in Northeast Minneapolis and is an active member of Grace University Lutheran Church.

Eurel Nwachi is a Licensed Social Worker, having worked in the healthcare field, school systems and community development. She is working with nonprofit organizations surrounding community development with programs geared towards ending homelessness in Minnesota. Eurel completed her undergraduate degree in Social Work from St. Cloud State University
Eurel has partnered with many many organizations in the greater St. Cloud area surrounding cultural events and education such as the African Cultural Organization (ACO), as well as served two terms as the President of the African Student Association (ASA). Eurel believed education is one of the most empowering things in the world. Eurel looks forward to supporting and carrying out the mission of Uniting Distant Stars (UDS) to become a change agent in the lives of young people.

Nathaniel was born in Liberia and migrated to the United States in 2012. He has since resided in the the Twin Cities area. He obtained a Bachelor of Science in Computer and Electronic Engineering Technology from Minnesota State University Mankato. He currently works at 3M as a Control System Engineer. During his spare time, Nathaniel loves to spend time with family and friends, watching sports, and doing DIY projects.
Nathaniel got connected to UDS while serving as member and later the President of the Liberian Students Association at Minnesota State University Mankato. He became a board member in 2021 and is very passionate about providing opportunities for the youth of Liberia. His ultimate dream is to see UDS expand to other countries in Africa.

Rich Berkley serves as a Financial Advisor at Principal Financial, where his primary focus lies in empowering underserved communities by imparting financial knowledge. Originally from Liberia, he migrated in 2002 due to the civil war, and he is committed to contributing to the recovery and betterment of his homeland after the traumatic experiences of the conflict.