Omar Torres - Kortright
Omar Torres - Kortright
Executive Director

Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Omar Torres-Kortright relocated to Chicago on July 15, 2000. He became involved with the Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center as a young student of Afro-Caribbean music and later served as a volunteer and Board Member. He was appointed Executive Director on April 30, 2015, becoming the longest-serving ED in SRBCC’s 54-year history. Under his leadership, the organization has significantly enhanced its multidisciplinary facility in Hermosa, while expanding its impact through a monthly arts and culture series, regular artistic residencies, and programs for young musicians. Established in 2018, La Cantera provides emerging Chicago-based Afro-Latin jazz musicians with career-defining exposure and mentorship from renowned teaching artists. Omar’s commitment to community-centered work has made SRBCC a vital hub for cultural preservation and artistic innovation. His collaborative spirit has fostered partnerships with internationally recognized creatives and major cultural institutions, securing essential opportunities for local and touring artists.

Omar’s contributions extend beyond SRBCC; he is a member of the Mayor’s Cultural Advisory Council and a 2022 Chicago Peace Fellows cohort member.

Wendy Navarro
Wendy Navarro
Administrative Assistant

Born and raised in San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico, Wendy Navarro has been working in the customer service field in Chicago for over two decades. Wendy is energetic and passionate about the work of local non-profits, and has extensive experience in coordinating and supporting operations for grassroots organizations. She joined the SRBCC team in January 2023.

Charly Barrera
Charly Barrera
Teaching Artist / Production Coordinator

Born and raised in Miami to Argentinian parents, Charly is a percussion and dance teaching artist with over three decades of experience, learning bomba from local elder Tito Rodríguez of Africaribe. He currently co-leads SRBCC’s Afro-Latin Percussion and Afro-Caribbean Jazz Apprenticeships.

Augustine Melecio
Augustine Melecio
Manager of Programs & Community Engagement
Augustine “Tino” Melecio, a son of a Puerto Rican mother and Mexican father, was born and raised in the Humboldt and Hermosa Park areas, having attended CPS schools, Alfred Nobel, Brian Piccolo, Schurz and then graduating from Mather High School.


While in high school Tino studied piano as well as trumpet, participating in programs such as All-City Concert and Jazz bands, Merit and Sherwood Music Conservatories, the Chicago Youth Jazz Ensemble lead by Orbert Davis, as well as the Protege Philharmonic, and Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra. Tino is also an alum of the Gallery 37 Latin Jazz Ensemble program when it was at the Block 37 site.

From high school, Tino was offered a scholarship to attend Boise State University, where he studied music education. Following his stint in Boise, Tino returned to Chicago after 7 years, and has worked in sales and marketing, as well as a freelance musician, working with international artists such as Mannix Martinez of La Sonora Poncena, as well as Jay Friedman and Ricardo Muti of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Tino has worked with Mariachi Heritage Foundation as a teaching artist located at Hurley Fine Arts school in CPS as well as co-lead a team for Opportunities for All to create mariachi programs within the Summit/Argo and North Berwyn school districts.


Currently Tino performs mostly with his bands that he manages through his small business, Ayem Pro Entertainment LLC as well as freelances with some of the top latin groups that tour through Chicago. He is also a long time member of the Symphony of Oak Park and River Forest, a community orchestra led by Jay Friedman of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.