Our Story
In October 2017, a massive wildfire devastated the California North Bay Counties of Sonoma, Napa, Lake and Mendocino. Our CEO, Jennifer Gray Thompson, along with so many others, lived through the disaster and wanted to help. People came together to listen, learn and do what they could to contribute to the recovery of the area.
Local leaders and organizations from every sector rallied to help the region recover. In response to these needs, Rebuild NorthBay Foundation (RNBF) was established by a group of determined individuals to provide a 360-degree view and support of our region's recovery.
What We Do
Convening Communities for Wildfire Recovery
We are in the Era of Megafire -- a climate based crisis that requires we both mitigate the conditions as well as respond to these communities devastated by wildfires. Under RNBF, we administrate fuels management programs. Under After the Fire USA, we advocate, educate, collaborate, and coach local leaders in recovery.
Since 2017, we have led the efforts to recover, rebuild and reimagine. In 2018, we began paying our lessons forward to help leaders in the Camp and Woolsey Fire. Since then, we have worked with every megafire affected community in the United State.
Each year we convene wildfire-impacted communities, leaders, and partners in collective resilience and innovation. This event brings together over 200 leaders from across the country to explore a 360-degree perspective on the wildfire landscape.
Supporting and Mentoring Emergent Leaders
Since November 2018 we have been the pre-eminent leaders in organizing people to problem solve, advocate, and help newly fire-affected communities chart a path to recovery.
From Sonoma County to Paradise to Malibu to Boulder and beyond, we have innovated locally and advocated federally for the urgent needs of wildfire-affected communities. We bring leaders from public, nonprofit and private sectors to the table to make progress.
We continue to mentor emergent leaders in wildfire affected areas as well as support collaboration across all sectors.
Sharing Strategies for Recovery After Wildfire
Our role is to coach and support LOCAL leadership to design and lead their own recoveries. We don’t make room for heroes or saviors on our roles—this work is about empowerment, not rescue.
Through interacting with survivors from these communities, we have collaboratively developed frameworks for effective leadership across sector, communication across communities and amplified voices to call for systemic solutions.
RNBF established After The Fire: Recover. Rebuild. Reimagine.™ initiative.
WHY?
We are in a systemic State of Emergency to both prevent and respond to megafire disasters in the American West.
WHO?
We align ourselves with experienced wildfire leaders working across sectors to expand access to wildfire resilience strategies, disaster recovery funds, and scalable tools and systems.
Serving. Leading. Delivering Hope.
Megafire is a solvable issue.
TOGETHER, WE DO.
Testimonials
"Due to the abundant generosity and support from After the Fire, I was able to attend the National VOAD conference as a first time attender. This opportunity was life- changing and would not have been possible without the airfare contribution from After the Fire on Alaska Airlines. The connections and training gleaned from the conference have enhanced our program’s ability to meet the needs of our community."
Tanni Swisher
Program Director of Santiam Disaster Services - Oregon
"We have been working collaboratively with After the Fire, a leader in the recovery and rebuild space for fire impacted communities across the country. They have shared amazing resources and have been supporters of our community as we have learned and navigated our recovery journey from the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex Fire."
Dave Reid
Director, Santa Cruz County Office of Response, Recovery and Resilience