Our values

~Sharing abundance with the goal of empowering others

~Treating all living creatures with respect

~Striving to reduce waste and the depletion of global resources by reusing or repairing

About us

Our team

One Shared Future Un Futuro Compartido is an expanding network of international volunteers working alongside dedicated locals in Cuba who care deeply about their community. We are committed to building trust within our organization and with our partners by fostering a culture of honesty, transparency and mutual respect in all our collaborations. Our primary goal is to build One Shared Future that equitably benefits everyone in our global community. To achieve this, we seek to understand and embrace the unique role each of us plays.

A smiling man with curly hair and a beard taking a mirror selfie with a black smartphone.

Leanne Isaak Canada

Elise Hjalmarson Canada

Dr. Yashar Keramati Canada

For more than 20 years, Leanne has been dedicated to expanding opportunity and empowering others to reach their full potential. Through leadership roles at Stanford University and the University of British Columbia, she has helped students—particularly those from historically underserved communities—access opportunities and realize their aspirations.

In 2022, that commitment extended to Havana, where she began supporting community leaders by connecting them with the resources they needed to strengthen their work. Inspired by their dedication and resilience, Leanne founded One Shared Future to support community-led initiatives that improve the lives of both people and animals.

Leanne believes that meaningful change grows from trust, collaboration, and the leadership of local communities. She is driven by the belief that we all have a role to play in building a better future.

Elise is a researcher and community organizer who has been working among the Latin American and Caribbean diaspora for over a decade. After completing her Master’s at the University of British Columbia and teaching at the National Autonomous University in Nicaragua, she earned her PhD in Anthropology and Sociology from the Geneva Graduate Institute in Switzerland. Her research explores transnational migration, emotions, and care in Cuba and beyond, and has been published in top academic journals including the Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, Ethnic and Racial Studies, and International Journal of Comparative Sociology.

Board of Directors

Cuba Coordinator

Jimmy Calás Cuba

Yashar is a Cuban-trained physician and humanitarian who believes healthcare is a fundamental human right. He has partnered with Rotary International to deliver more than $1 million in medical supplies and equipment to Cuba and has served communities around the world. As the founder of the Medicine Is Not Sold initiative, he has built a network that connects thousands of people across Havana and surrounding communities to provide free medications to those in need.

Jimmy is a Cuban physician and scientific editor who graduated with honours from the University of Medical Sciences of Havana, with published research in the medical sciences and public health. He has collaborated with "Corazón con Cuba" and "Corazón Granma" on medication donation initiatives. After meeting Leanne and Elise in Havana in 2026, he began volunteering with One Shared Future, where he now serves as Cuba Coordinator. He is committed to the principle that access to healthcare should never depend on circumstance, and that lasting change is built on trust and collaboration across borders.