BIO

bio

Paula Esguerra is Special Advisor to the International Exchange Forum at the Portland Japanese Garden’s Japan Institute, where she directs International Peace Programming. Leveraging her expertise in cultural diplomacy and her deep multicultural background—having lived in Colombia, North America, Europe, and Japan—she forges global partnerships. Paula holds multiple M.A. degrees and is a Ph.D. candidate. She facilitates peace symposia worldwide and is dedicated to bridging cultural divides and advancing reconciliation, as seen in programs like "Reconciliation and Integration Through Art Kintsugi and Heart Maps."

Mary Stanley, a Human Services student at ETSU with a minor in Trauma and Resilience-Based Therapies, brings a unique perspective from her previous career as an entrepreneur. For nearly two decades, she owned a hairstyling business, building trust and providing an empathetic, confidential space for her clients. Now studying remotely from Japan’s Nagano Prefecture, she combines this real-world experience in supportive relationships with her academic knowledge. Mary is uniquely positioned to serve and empower individuals in both the US and Japan, leveraging her skills to foster resilience and healing.