Born in Medellín, Colombia, Héctor Aristizábal is a therapist, actor, director, and activist with over 40 years of experience. In 1989, he was forced to emigrate to the United States due to violence in his home country. There, he worked as a bilingual therapist with vulnerable groups, including people affected by HIV/AIDS, gang members, prisoners, and refugees. In 2000, he founded ImaginAction, an organization with which he has collaborated in over 50 countries to transform conflict and heal collective trauma through theater.

In 2017, Héctor returned to Colombia and co-founded DreamingAction and Re-Conectando to promote cultural transformation and healing within the framework of the peace accord. His work has been recognized with several awards, including the Otto René Castillo Award, and is detailed in his autobiography, co-written with Diane Lefer,  The Blessing Next to the Wound .