2025
Backing Community Leaders Beyond the Crisis
Keynote speaker Alena Wall, a Sonoma County native and Kaiser Permanente leader, shares how the organization invested nearly $24 million in post-disaster recovery efforts after the Tubbs Fire. Through partnerships with 65 nonprofits, the initiative focused on four pillars—economic security, mental health and resilience, housing stability, and community infrastructure. From funding the first health equity…
Read MoreVideo Presentation: Rogue Food Unites
This powerful video presentation highlights the inspiring story of Rogue Food Unites (RFU) — a grassroots organization born from the 2020 Oregon wildfires that transformed crisis response through the power of food and community. From serving hot meals during disaster recovery to building sustainable food systems that support local farmers, RFU has created a compassionate…
Read MoreLand After Fire: Reimagining Home Post-Disaster
In this heartfelt and insightful panel, longtime mortgage banker and moderator Tim Carpenter leads a discussion with Lori Gay, President & CEO, Neighborhood Housing Services of Los Angeles, and Sidra Goldwater, Advisor, Disaster Recovery & Rebuilding, Fannie Mae. Together, they explore the human and financial dimensions of post-disaster recovery—from restoring hope to rebuilding homes and…
Read MoreBuilt to Withstand: Creating Wildfire-Prepared Homes
Moderator Casey Taylor leads a thoughtful discussion with panelists Jessica Pyska, J. Lopez, Laura Blaul, and Karl Flippinger on leadership, collaboration, and the power of partnerships in community resilience. Together, they share real-world experiences from across sectors—government, education, and emergency management—highlighting lessons learned, challenges faced, and strategies that strengthen local response and recovery efforts. This…
Read MoreThe Heart of Leadership in Disasters: Honest Lessons from Years on the Frontline
In this inspiring talk, Katie Simmons, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer of Butte County, shares insights on the power of friendship, trust, and human connection in community recovery. Drawing from real experiences, she explores how relationships and social capital form the invisible infrastructure that sustains resilience long after disaster strikes. Her message highlights how empathy, collaboration,…
Read MoreMorning Welcome Day 2
Day two of the 2025 After the Fire Leadership Summit opens with warm remarks from Jennifer Gray Thompson, emphasizing honesty, resilience, and the daily dedication of community leaders in wildfire recovery. She introduces keynote speaker Katie Simmons, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Butte County, who shares heartfelt insights on the realities, challenges, and hope found…
Read MoreLinked by Fire, United by Hope
The Power of Connection: Friendship and Trust in Recovery. In this heartfelt closing panel, two leaders—John Smith, Administrator of Maui’s Office of Recovery, and Paul, Division Chief Fire Marshal from Santa Rosa—share how tragedy sparked an enduring partnership. Moderated by Lorez Bailey, a Sonoma County recovery leader, the conversation explores the human side of disaster…
Read MoreInvisible Infrastructure: How Social Capital Builds Disaster Resilience
Australian resilience expert Renae Hanvin, Founder and CEO of Resilient Ready, shares powerful insights on how “invisible infrastructure”—the social connections that bind communities—plays a crucial role in disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. Speaking at an international forum, she explores how social capital—the trust, networks, and coordination among people—builds true resilience beyond systems and technology. Drawing…
Read MoreFunding Futures: Investing in Community Fire Recovery
In this panel on Funding and Philanthropy in Disaster Recovery, leaders from Napa Valley Community Foundation, Hawaii Community Foundation, and Ballmer Group discuss lessons learned from disaster response across California and Hawaii. Julia DeNatale, Keanu Lau Hee, and Nina Revoyr share how philanthropy can evolve to meet long-term community needs, support nonprofits under strain, and…
Read MoreWe Are the Ones We’ve Been Waiting For
In this inspiring panel on Community-Led Resilience, Kasey Earnest, CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Malibu, moderates a powerful conversation with Nicole Huguenin, a generosity entrepreneur from Maui, and architect David Hertz of the LA County Fire Brigade. Together, they share how grassroots care networks, community brigades, and local leadership are transforming disaster…
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