Paul Figueroa is a former King County Sheriff’s Deputy and Detective whose life mission was forged at just seven years old, after surviving years of violence and emotional trauma in his home. Determined to ensure others would never face what he endured, Paul built a distinguished law-enforcement career serving in patrol, investigations, narcotics, and gang units, becoming a recognized expert in gang intervention and high-risk criminal cases. But after more than a decade of responding to crises after the damage was done, he realized his deeper calling was prevention. In 1998, Paul left policing to create his Peace Enforcement Violence Prevention / Self-Esteem Curriculum™ and founded a nonprofit, The Village Project, through which he has helped thousands of children and families build safety, confidence, resilience, and hope. His work has earned national recognition, including nominations for PBS’s Golden Apple Award, the YMCA Outstanding Mentor Award, and the Governor’s Child Abuse Prevention Award.

Today, Paul is a sought-after keynote speaker and trainer who has supported organizations across the United States—including government agencies, tribal communities, Head Start and Early Head Start programs, human-resource associations, and national education conferences. His transformative messages on self-worth, emotional safety, and human resilience have been featured on Radio Disney and the Today Show, and his inspirational fiction works and newest book, Beyond the Façade / Change Your Baseline – Change Your Life, continue to impact readers worldwide. Whether speaking to parents, educators, teams, or leaders, Paul brings unmatched authenticity, hard-earned wisdom, humor and a deep belief in the power of every person to reshape their story and their future.