From a childhood of being endlessly mocked for his weight, Zach Herman has been on a mission. Zach says:

“I began my journey to fitness in the worst possible way. I was shamed into it. As an indoor kid growing up, I didn’t have many friends. I turned to video games and food for comfort, leaving me out of shape and socially maladjusted.

Eventually, I found a connection in theatre: all the imagined worlds to live in and parts to play resonated with me. This, of course, didn’t help an overweight kid in his early teens already facing ridicule every day for being the fat kid; now, because people think any guy in theater and dance is gay, I was the fat, gay kid too. I couldn’t change their biases, but I could change myself.

It wasn’t a healthy start. I’ve hit every fad and fitness myth. I’ve starved myself, I’ve done endless cardio, I’ve bought the workout DVDs, I’ve been led down a path that doesn’t work for me time and time again.

Then I got smart. I got educated and certified by the International Sports Sciences Association. I started training in 2016, and most recently took it a step further with Precision Nutrition in 2019.

As for my social issues, going through drama school, performing abroad, showcasing and auditioning in New York City every week, I’ve found a rhythm. The work is never done, and I continue to work on myself and set an example for my clients.”

Stan Shikuma

From Hiroshima to hope

http://fromhiroshimatohope.org/

https://www.facebook.com/FromHiroshimaToHope

https://tsuruforsolidarity.org/

Stanley N Shikuma - Board Member of From Hiroshima to Hope

Stan Nobuo Shikuma, Direct Action/Arts Action Committee

Stan is a Sansei activist, organizer, artist, and recently retired nurse living in Seattle, WA. His father’s family farmed strawberries in Watsonville, CA before WWII; his older brother was only 4-years old when the family was removed to a concentration camp near Poston, AZ. His mother’s family owned a dry cleaner and laundromat in Shelton, WA when they were sent to the concentration camp at Tule Lake, CA. Stan serves on the boards of the Tule Lake Committee, Seattle Chapter of the  Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), and Regional Taiko Groups-Seattle (RTG-Seattle). He co-edits the Seattle Nisei Veterans Committee & NVC Foundation monthly newsletter; participated in the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA) 2019 Delegation to Okinawa as a member of the Seattle Chapter; served as a Unit Rep in the Washington State Nurses Association (WSNA) before retirement in early 2019, has worked on the North American Taiko Conference for twenty years, and performs regularly with Seattle Kokon Taiko. Stan is organizing the taiko contingent for the National Pilgrimage to Close the Camps.

Stan Shikuma, Tule Lake Committee, is a Sansei who grew up in Watsonville, California. His family members went to Poston and Tule Lake. Mr. Shikuma helped organize the first Asian American Studies course at Stanford, and he also worked on redress and reparations. He has attended every Tule Lake Pilgrimage since 1979, learning much about the largest confinement center for Japanese Americans during World War II. Mr. Shikuma performs with Seattle Kokon Taiko, sits on the Advisory Board of the North American Taiko Conference, directs Kaze Daiko (a youth group), and coordinates RTG Seattle, an alliance of nine local taiko groups). He also co-chairs the Seattle Area Chapter of JACL’s Power of Words Committee, changing history one word at a time.

Stanley N Shikuma is a writer, taiko (Japanese drum) artist, and community activist. He performs with Seattle Kokon Taiko and directs Kaze Daiko (a taiko youth group), and has also been a performer, composer, and percussionist on new opera, silent film scores, Butoh dance, and puppet theatre. As a social activist, Stan writes and lectures on Civil Rights, Japanese American history, and Taiko. Affiliations include work with the Tule Lake Pilgrimage, Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), Seattle Nisei Veterans Committee & NVC Foundation, Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA), Regional Taiko Groups-Seattle, and Taiko Community Alliance.

Elena Danaan

Born in France, I studied Fine Arts and Archaeology in Paris and spent twenty years of my life as a field archeologist in Egypt (in Karnak temples, Cairo, Denderah and the Valley of the Kings), and in France with Neolithic, Celtic and Gallo-Roman cultures. With a university degree in Egyptian religion, I also had the privilege to be trained locally in traditional Egyptian Magic.

Magic has always been part of my life. From a young age I was aware of my vocation and discovered early that I could heal and foretell. During my twenties I travelled frequently to Brittany to spend time with local Druids. The true nature of my path was revealed to me in the heart of Broceliande. After years of travels around the world as an archaeologist, I moved to Ireland and embraced my true calling.

Druidess from the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids, Celtic celebrant for all life rites, healer, shaman and runes seeress, I also work in graphic arts as an illustrator and a painter. Using natural resources from the West coast of Ireland, I create jewellery and magic wands, and fashion Celtic cloaks

Fully-certified Druid and Celebrant from the Order of Bards Ovates and Druids, experienced Shaman and Channeller, I help people to find their own power and reconnect with their spiritual path, guiding them through life and facilitating their self-growth. As a starseed, my task is to help others awakening to their true nature and power, as well as to the awareness of their own personal mission.

Celebrant & Druidess

As a qualified druidess from the order of Bards, Ovates and Druids, I lead the grove “Solas an Iarthair” in West Kerry, facilitating ceremonies for the eight Celtic festivals of the year. I am a celebrant for all rites of life and passage, having trained and qualified with River Jones. Being a druid is a vocation, a passion, a privilege and a way of life, in service to the community of all living beings

Runes Wisdom

I honour the heritage of my maternal great grandmothers from the Baltic island of Gotland, where magic interweaves the traditions of Saami and Norse cultures since time immemorial. I was taught the art of runes as a Völva - traditional Norse seers and wise women, daughters of Freya - receiving my first set of runes from my grandmother at the age of nine. Their wisdom has since blessed my path

Healer

My competencies as a reiki practitioner and Celtic druidess join with sound therapy and traditional shamanism to promote healing. The first step is to determine the right method for the individual and then proceed, using different tools such as aura reading, reiki, sound healing, protection work, shamanic cleansing, deep shamanic journey, and druid energetic healing, based on the different components of the body and the elemental forces of nature

Celtic Journeys

A series of guided meditations based on Celtic Spirituality. Each first Sunday of the month, at Re Nua Natural Health Clinic, Goat street, Dingle Co. Kerry. I offer a series of workshops once a month, as well as a weekly course, to explore the symbols used in Irish druidry and become attuned to the sacred festivals of Celtic tradition. Discover the links between these ancient and sacred symbols  and our being and bodies

An Artist

Laureate of the National School of Fine Art in Paris, I marry my numerous artistic talents with my knowledge of archeology and druidism, to create unique and beautiful representations of the Celtic lore and myths

https://www.elenadanaan.org/

https://www.elenadanaan.com/

Neil Farber is a retired academic internal medicine physician. He obtained his undergraduate degree Cum Laude in Biology at Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster Pennsylvania, in 1972, and was Phi Beta Kappa. He went on to get his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1976. He then completed a residency in Internal Medicine at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia, PA. He practiced medicine for 40 years, teaching, researching and providing patient care in medical schools initially on the East Coast. For 12 years he was Professor of Clinical Medicine at University of California, San Diego, retiring at the end of April 2019. His academic interests are in education and teaching, especially in regards to patient-physician communication skills and medical ethics. He has received numerous awards, including Top Doctor of San Diego five times, and is a member of the FDA Non-Prescription Drug Advisory Committee. He has published over 60 research papers, and has recently published a book entitled, Recognizing and Utilizing Common Everyday Events to Enhance Your Life and Career. 

Marcus McCutcheon is a 2002 Watkins Award Honoree who played football and graduated from Stanford University.  He was recognized as one of the top high school defensive backs in the country. Coming from a family of athletes, brother played for USC and in the NFL and dad, Lawrence McCutcheon was a well known and respected retired NFL player.  Marcus worked through adversity to play several positions at Stanford.  After graduation, Marcus chose to pursue Law School and now is practicing law in California.    

Dan Eberhart, CEO of Canary, one of the largest privately-owned oilfield services companies in the United States. Served as a consultant to the energy industry in North America, Asia and Africa. Dan's commentaries have been published in CNN, The Hill, Real Clear Energy, and the Economist. Dan regularly appear on Fox Business, CNN, MSNBC, Bloomberg and CNBC. Author of "The Switch" about America's path to energy dominance.

Meghan E. Brooks is a Clinical Lecturer in Law, Associate Research Scholar in Law, and Robert M. Cover Clinical Teaching Fellow at Yale Law School. Previously, she was a Justice Catalyst Fellow in the Special Litigation Unit and Public Benefits Unit's Veterans Practice at New York Legal Assistance Group, where she handled veterans benefits appeals and worked to advance pro-veteran policy.

J.D., Yale Law School, 2019

A.B., Harvard College, 2014 

Website:  https://law.yale.edu/clinics/vlsc