Amadeo Cruz Guiao
Executive Director

Amadeo (previously Christine) Cruz Guiao is a queer Filipina-American. A veteran of the social justice non-profit world, she also has extensive experience as a Healer and Spiritual Guide as well as in organizing and leading wilderness retreats. She currently leads and organizes the monthly meditation classes, and regularly holds meditation and Sound Healing workshops at organizations such as Seattle University, Shoreline Community College, Filipino Community Center of Seattle, and YouthSource, a program for previously-incarcerated youth. 

As a cultural worker and artist, Amadeo has organized and performed all over the Pacific Northwest, including Vancouver, Eugene, and of course her home, Seattle in the band Dreamcake.  In addition to her work as a healing artist, she has over 20 years experience in Marketing and Outreach in several social justice and environmental nonprofit organizations including the international environmental coalition the Industrial Shrimp Action Network, Greenpeace, and the Human Rights Campaign in Washington, DC. She has joyfully explored wildernesses around the world, including Alaska, the Canadian Rockies, the Himalayas and the North Cascades of her own backyard, and draws on the healing power of Nature to guide and inspire her work. For more information, check out: www.tawahealingworks.com

April Nishimura
Associate Director

Since 2008, April has worked to support LGBTQI community health.   As a social worker at the Asian Pacific Islander Safety Center, April restarted the Queer Networking Program to address domestic violence and sexual abuse in LGBTQI relationships, Later, she directed the Youth Program Coordinator, facilitating group discussions with young women of color in high-school about relationships, health and safety.  She also led support groups for homeless youth who have experienced sexual violence. 

April is an experienced facilitator, and has trained hundreds of people on building sustainable movements for change & ending racism and homophobia. In 2008, April developed and co-taught the University of Washington’s first course on mixed-race studies.  She has also developed numerous curriculum related to trauma, healthy relationships and structural oppression.

Before working with Zenyu, April co-founded Writing Home, a writing circle for LGBTQI people of color and Tadaima, a queer-friendly group for people from the Japanese diaspora.  In her private practice, April is a Structural Medicine Specialist, (doing hands-on body therapy) & .yoga teacher.  For more information, check out: www.aprilnishimura.com

Emil Paddison
Sustainability Director

Emil is a white disabled queer activist who has been living and organizing in Seattle for over 13 years. They were a Tenant Counselor and Community Organizer at the Tenants Union of Washington State for six years, and supported a resilient and amazing group of tenant leaders in an unprecedented accountability victory for Section 8 voucher holders at Seattle Housing Authority. They went on to become the Tenants Union Deputy Director, creating organizational growth and stability through fundraising, staff support, graphic design, and contract management. They are also the author of the comprehensive website for tenants’ rights in Washington State at www.tenantsunion.org. They currently work part time for the Tenants Union as a Grant Writer and Organizational Consultant.

Emil is a musician and songwriter who has performed with Dreamcake and their new band The Nature. They are a leader with the Seattle chapter of Resource Generation, organizing young people with wealth to move resources for social change.

As Sustainability Director, Emil supports Zenyu’s ongoing health and growth through fundraising, strategic planning, and administrative support. Emil is currently in training with generative somatics to become a somatics practitioner and is thrilled to be a part of Zenyu’s work for healing justice. Emil is committed to becoming a leader in developing new relational and spiritual models for healing whiteness and class privilege by increasing community capacity for complexity, imperfection, and connection.

Community Advisory Group

Zenyu is supported by a large number of amazing folks in a variety of formal & informal roles.   Our Community Advisory Group is made up of members of this Beloved Community.  Thank you for nurturing us, believing in us and caring for your sweet self!

Contact Info
 You can reach any of us at [email protected].  We’d love to hear from you!