We promote peace, empathy, and cross-cultural understanding through the arts.

Masahiro Sasaki is a Hiroshima atomic bomb survivor and peace educator. He is the older brother of Sadako Sasaki and works to share her story with historical accuracy and personal perspective. Masahiro is co-author, with Sue DiCicco Smith, of The Complete Story of Sadako Sasaki.

Clifton Truman Daniel is the oldest grandson of President Harry S. Truman and his wife, Bess. He is the son of author Margaret Truman and former New York Times Managing Editor E. Clifton Daniel Jr. Mr. Daniel is honorary chairman of the board of the Truman Library Institute, nonprofit partner of the Truman Presidential Library and Museum in Independence, MO, board secretary of the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation, and vice president of the Society of Presidential Descendants. He is the author of Growing Up With My Grandfather: Memories of Harry S. Truman and Dear Harry, Love Bess: Bess Truman’s Letters to Harry Truman, 1919-1943. He is currently portraying his grandfather in the one-man stage show, Give ‘Em Hell Harry, as well as writing and lecturing on the Truman presidency.

Peace Boat Executive Committee Member; Peace & Disarmament Educator Akira Kawasaki is a leading voice in international peace and nuclear disarmament. As an Executive Committee Member of Peace Boat, he has spent more than two decades advancing peace education and global civil society dialogue. Akira has also served in leadership roles with the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), recipient of the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize. He brings deep expertise in peace education, humanitarian advocacy, and international cooperation.

Jennifer Kim is Director of The Peace School, an educational non-profit teaching practices for a peaceful life and world. The Peace School founded Peace Day in Chicago in 1978. Jennifer volunteered to help at that first Peace Day event and her involvement with Peace Day grew steadily over the years. In 2008 The Peace School created the Chicago Build the Peace Committee to collaborate more closely with community organizations in order to expand the reach of Peace Day Chicago. Jennifer has served as Chair of the Committee since 2008. One aspect of the Committee’s work is providing Peace Day materials annually to all Chicago Public Schools, encouraging students to engage in positive actions and activities for the International Day of Peace. The Peace Crane Project is a featured part of these materials.

Dr. Hanka Pospíšilová is a cardiologist and peace educator based in the Czech Republic. Alongside her medical career, she founded Pomoc dětem na útěku (“Help Children on the Run”) and has spent years supporting young refugee children on Lesvos, working both as a doctor in the refugee camps and as an advocate for human care. In addition, Dr. Hanka has championed peace education by securing permission to translate The Complete Story of Sadako Sasaki into Czech, expanding access to this history throughout Central Europe.

Sumiyuki Sasaki, nephew of Sadako Sasaki, supports international outreach efforts related to the peace crane and the Sasaki family’s legacy. He works with educators, cultural leaders, and community groups to preserve the meaning behind Sadako’s message and to encourage global friendship.

Yuji Sasaki, nephew of Sadako Sasaki, is a musician and advocate for peace education. His original song “Inori for Peace” has touched audiences worldwide, carrying forward the message of Sadako’s story through music and cultural outreach. Yuji supports global efforts to inspire children through the universal symbol of the paper crane.

Jill Underwood-Smith is a retired Journalist. Her 30 year career found her covering the 911 terrorists for TIME Magazine to telling stories for NBC’s Today Show, Nightly News and 48 Hours on CBS. For her work she has received more than 50 awards including 7 Emmy Awards.
She has volunteered on numerous committees including the San Diego Food Bank and Nkuringo Primary/Orphan School in Uganda. She has also been on the boards of The San Diego Women’s Foundation and The Mission Hills United Methodist Church.

Sue DiCicco Smith is an artist, author, and former Walt Disney Feature Animation artist. She founded the Peace Crane Project in 2012 to connect young people around the world through the shared art of origami. Sue is co-author, with Masahiro Sasaki, of The Complete Story of Sadako Sasaki.

Hanako Wakatsuki-Chong is an award-winning museum professional and public historian whose work centers on community storytelling, cultural preservation, and inclusive education. She has held key leadership roles in cultural institutions across the United States, developing exhibitions, programs, and digital initiatives that uplift underrepresented histories and foster cross-cultural understanding.
Hanako has collaborated widely on projects that bridge communities, including supporting the rollout of the Nisei Soldier Congressional Gold Medal stamp and producing multimedia resources that help educators share this important history with students.

Joyce E. Dudley holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and two master’s degrees in education, with emphases in early childhood education and educational administration. She earned her Juris Doctor in 1990 and served for more than 20 years as a Deputy District Attorney in Santa Barbara County, specializing in the prosecution of violent crimes against vulnerable victims. Joyce was elected Santa Barbara County District Attorney in 2010 and served in that role until her retirement in 2023.

In 2016, she was appointed by Governor Jerry Brown to serve as Chair of the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST), a position she held until 2023. That same year, Governor Gavin Newsom appointed her as Chair of the Peace Officer Standards and Accountability Advisory Board. Joyce is also the author of two crime novels, Justice Served and Intoxicating Agent.

Alisher Khassengaliyev is a youth advocate and educator from Kazakhstan, known for his leadership within the Steppe Organization for Peace (STOP), a Qazaq youth initiative focused on nuclear justice and community empowerment. He has represented young voices in international dialogues, including as a guest educator aboard Peace Boat’s global voyages, where he collaborated with hibakusha, activists, and peace educators from around the world.
Alisher brings a powerful commitment to youth engagement, cross-cultural dialogue, and creative peacebuilding. His work reflects a belief that young people are uniquely positioned to imagine—and shape—a more just and peaceful future.

Louis Henry Mitchell is a nationally respected creative leader known for advancing empathy, inclusion, and positive social impact. As Creative Director of Character Design at Sesame Workshop, he oversees the visual development of beloved characters that help children around the world feel seen, supported, and empowered. Louis has taught character design at the School of Visual Arts and spoken globally about the power of storytelling in shaping culture. He also currently serves on the Board of Trustees at the Norman Rockwell Museum and the Bronx Children’s Museum. Louis brings decades of creative leadership to our board, along with a lifelong dedication to using imagination and design to inspire hope, belonging, and positive change.

Masooma Rahmaty is a policy analyst, climate justice advocate, and global peacebuilder whose life and work embody the resilience and hope at the heart of the Peace Crane Project. Coming alone to the US from Afghanistan at the age of 15, Masooma now holds a master’s degree in Environmental Management from Yale, and brings a unique lens to the Peace Crane Project. Rooted in both the realities of conflict and the possibilities of hope, Masooma serves as a powerful role model for young people — especially girls — demonstrating that courage, education, and global citizenship can transform lives and shape the future.

Educated in Europe and with deep teaching experience in both China and Japan, Noël represents a new breed of educator. He has practical classroom experience, a broad range of global experience, and a keen eye for opportunities to introduce students to new ideas and approaches to art and life. Noël is currently designing a new system to teach origami and is actively participating in the Peace Crane Project with his students.