About
Vision
People who move to foreign countries invariably need to adjust and adapt. They often need to learn a new language, adjust to new cultural norms, and modify their career goals. These challenges can be particularly daunting for women. Our vision is a society in which people from abroad can freely pursue their life goals.
Mission
We provide services and resources to people living abroad so that they can achieve their life goals.
How we got our name
We want to serve as both an information center (Hub) and a gathering place (Park).
The Hub Park Team
Hiromi Ishizawa
Co-Founder
Chair and Associate Professor of Sociology at George Washington University. She studied Geography and Demography at Waikato University (New Zealand) before receiving her master's and doctorate degree in sociology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She specializes in immigration studies, social demography, and urban sociology. She moved to the DC area in 2008 after completing her post-doctoral research at the University of Minnesota. She wants to provide services that grant women living abroad flexibility in designing their own lives that fits their stage in life.
Maiko Ueno
Co-Founder
After working at an advertising agency and TV station in Japan, Maiko moved to Hong Kong to work for an airline. Currently, she is working as an HR specialist for an animal welfare nonprofit organization in D.C. Often moving around for her husband's job, Maiko has experience struggling to plan out her own life and wants to support those in similar positions. This motivated her to become a certified professional coach. In 2014, she participated in planning for the DC Komachi Kai, the predecessor to Hub Park. Her goal through Hub Park is to support as many people as possible to lead a fulfilling life.
Rieko Sandness
Board Member
Having an affinity for interesting world cultures, Rieko majored in Russian Studies at Sophia University. Afterwards, she studied the language and art history in Russia. Upon returning to Japan, she worked in planning Russian art exhibitions. She later worked for a cultural complex in Tokyo in public relations and digital marketing. Since coming to the United States, Rieko has worked in a Japanese company as a liaison between the Japanese and local staff in various projects and roles. She is the mother of two and enjoys spending her free time in theaters, art museums, temples, wineries and other extraordinary spaces.
Koto Maesaka
Board Member
Koto Maesaka grew up in Zushi, Kanagawa, Japan, and graduated from Kanagawa University. She spent five years working in an upscale jazz club doing marketing and PR. After moving to the United States, she worked for 10 years at a DC-based performing arts nonprofit and worked with education and community engagement programs. In 2014, she began teaching Japanese and Japanese culture to create a space for her two sons to meet other children with Japanese roots. Koto is passionate about education and loves working with artists and playing a role in bringing more arts to schools and communities.
Lisa Watanabe
Board Member
Lisa is an organization and leadership development expert, a coach for executives and high-potential emerging leaders, a researcher, and a teacher. As the Founder of Watanabe & Associates, she offers coaching and training to leaders in multiple cultural contexts. A researcher at Keio University and Columbia University, she also teaches leadership to undergraduates. She has over 20 years of professional experience at organizations such as MIT and international organizations. Lisa has earned a Master of Education from Harvard University Graduate School of Education. She is currently pursuing her doctorate in Organization and Leadership at Columbia University.