Altadena

Community Meeting

with After the Fire USA

January 22, 2025 | 5:30 - 7:00 pm PT

Click here to register

ABOUT AFTER THE FIRE USA

After the Fire USA is a registered 501c3, nonprofit, dedicated to helping communities navigate megafires. Formed in 2017, when our own region suffered a megafire, we have passionately served our mission to support fire-impacted communities across the nation as they recover, rebuild, and reimagine a more resilient future. In the past 7 years, we have worked in virtually every megafire across four states, most recently supporting Maui. We deploy, educate, advocate, and convene wildfire leaders yearly. 

We are the only national nonprofit solely focused on community recovery after megafire. We lead it because we've lived it. 

We work closely with local government, federal lawmakers, NGOs (local and national), private sector, faith-based groups, and emergent leaders. See quotes below from Maui leaders. We are very trusted on Maui for our approach.

 

Maui Leader Quote2

Sonoma County leaders share experience, lessons learned with visitors from fire-stricken island of Maui

September 13, 2024

Story by The Press Democrat. The trip was hosted by After the Fire USA as part of the nonprofit organization’s annual three-day Wildfire Leadership Summit in Sonoma. It’s an example of what Chief Executive Officer Jennifer Gray Thompson and After the Fire call “paying our lessons forward.”   For the people of Maui, it may be too soon to…

SPEAKERS

Jennifer Gray Thompson, MPA
[email protected]

North Bay Fires (2017) Kincaid + Walbridge Fires (2019), Glass Fire (2020)

Founder & CEO, After the Fire USA; Executive Director, Rebuild NorthBay Foundation; Bipartisan Policy Center Disaster Response Reform Task Force

Subject Matter Expertise: Community Recovery, Long-Term, Federal Advocacy, Wildfire Leadership Network, Frontline Community Support, Local + Federal Government; Public Policy

Jennifer Gray Thompson, the CEO of After the Fire USA, LLC & After the Fire USA (501c3), has a remarkable journey rooted in community disaster. She graduated from Dominican University and earned a Master of Public Administration from the University of Southern California’s Price School of Public Policy. In 2017, after devastating fires in San Francisco’s North Bay, she became the Executive Director of Rebuild NorthBay Foundation (RNBF), a 501c3 formed to help the region rebuild. In response to the Era of Megafires, a relatively recent chronic climate-based disaster, RNBF created After the Fire USA in 2020. 

Gray Thompson was named to Forbes’ 50 over 50 IMPACT List in 2022 and appointed to the Bipartisan Policy Center Disaster Response Reform Task Force in 2023, making policy recommendations to Congress. As a nationally recognized subject matter expert (SME) in megafire recovery, she presents at several national conferences, including US Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Fannie Mae, Smart Cities, FEMA, MIT, UNC, and National VOAD. Jennifer has also been featured in local, regional, and national news outlets, including NPR’s All Things Considered, NBC News, Meet the Press, and CBS Evening News. She hosts the “How to Disaster” podcast, which amplifies best practices, survivor experiences, and mitigation measures to ensure safety.

Jennifer is a fierce federal policy advocate, helping to secure over $6B in direct tax relief for disaster survivors in 2024, and has 7 years of experience working on the Hill, working with lawmakers and agencies. Her commitment to equitable and resilient recoveries empowers wildfire communities and bridges the gap between those on the frontlines of disaster and those who create policies.

Brad Sherwood

Tubbs Fire rebuilder, Community Leader

Assistant Director, Sonoma Water Agency

Brad Sherwood and his family are 2017 Tubbs Fire survivors.  The Sherwood family lost their home, personal possessions, including family pets, in the early morning of October 9, 2017. Sherwood is also the assistant general manager of the Sonoma County Water Agency.

Sherwood helped his community rebuild by co-founding a non-profit called the Mark West Area Community Fund, developed a block captain program to share rebuild information, and developed a home rebuild program that resulted in more than 200 of his neighbors being able to rebuild together.  His community non-profit is now building a new community park on the lot of a former preschool that did not rebuild after the Tubbs Fire. It was the vision of the block captains to rebuild stronger and build a more united community, thus the new park development project. Sherwood also assisted with improving public infrastructure in the burn zone including undergrounding power lines, converting septics to sewer, installation of new sidewalks and more.

Jeff Okrepkie

Tubbs Fire (2017) 

Council Member, City of Santa Rosa, Founder of Coffey Strong

Jeff Okrepkie's leadership journey exemplifies the importance of collaboration and preparedness in the face of disaster. As an insurance producer and community leader, Jeff's life took a dramatic turn when the Tubbs Fire, one of California's most destructive wildfires, ravaged his Coffey Park neighborhood in 2017. In response, Jeff founded Coffey Strong, a non-profit organization dedicated to uniting the community in the recovery and rebuilding efforts. This initiative showcased his ability to lead and collaborate effectively, bringing together residents, government entities, and various organizations to navigate the aftermath of the fire.

This experience, combined with his roles on various boards and commissions, positioned him as a strong city council candidate who understands the challenges and needs of the community. His election to the Santa Rosa City Council in 2022, is a testament to his dedication to public service and his ability to turn a personal tragedy into an opportunity to serve and improve his community. 

Reva Feldman
[email protected]

Woolsey Fire (2018)

City Manager, Malibu (ret)

Subject Matter Expertise: Public sector leadership before, during and after disaster; City + County Management; Coastal Issues

Reva Feldman is an executive level leader with over 25 years of public sector experience working in city management and disaster preparedness, response and recovery to help ensure that local and state municipalities are prepared for emergencies and are able to respond quickly and efficiently before and after a disaster.  

Ms. Feldman first served as the chief operating officer for a state park agency and then served as city manager for the City of Malibu, CA. Her strong leadership skills, knowledge, experience, and profound dedication to local government spurred her many notable achievements, including leading Malibu through the 2018 Woolsey Fire. Ms. Feldman retired from public service in 2021 and opened a consulting firm that supports local government and the city management profession. She serves as a Senior Fellow at Portland State University entities and is a frequent speaker for public and private organizations. 

Tennis Wick

North Bay Fires (2017) Kincaid + Walbridge Fires (2019), Glass Fire (2020)

Director, Permit Sonoma

Subject Matter Expertise: Rebuilding Post-Disaster; County Leadership; Mutual Aid, Debris Removal; Permit Processes

Tennis Wick has served as Permit Sonoma (Permit and Resource Management Department) Director since November 2013. The agency balances environmental protection and sustainable development of Sonoma County’s natural resources through the agency’s planning, engineering, building, fire prevention, natural resources, code enforcement and administration divisions.    

Before joining the County of Sonoma, Wick worked as a principal at Berg Holdings responsible for government affairs, site acquisition, design and entitlement. Previously, Tennis practiced as a partner at the engineering and planning consulting firm CSW/Stuber-Stroeh Engineering Group, Inc. He began his career with the County of Marin where he led current planning as Development Chief.    

Wick is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (10447) and the American Planning Association. Tennis Wick holds a Juris Doctor degree from Golden Gate University School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science with a Public Service Emphasis from the University of California, Santa Barbara.   

A long-time Petaluma resident, Tennis Wick has been civically active twice serving as a City Planning Commissioner and as Board President of the Friends of the Petaluma River, Petaluma Peoples Service Center and the Petaluma Area Chamber of Commerce.  Wick currently serves as past president of the California County Planning Directors Association.  

Tennis is part owner of Hen House Brewing Co.  He and his wife Holly have four grown daughters and three granddaughters and are active in endurance sports, cooking and gardening. 

Jenn Kaaoush

Marshall Fire Survivor 2021 - Smoke Damage

Director, Superior Rising
Council Member, Town of Superior
Veteran (Army)

Subject Matter Expertise: Post-Disaster Community Leadership, Local Government (elected)

Jenn is a dedicated public servant and community advocate currently serving as a Town Council Member. Her journey into disaster recovery began as a private citizen, driven by a deep desire to help her neighbors in the aftermath of a catastrophic wildfire that reached her doorstep. Following the Marshall Fire in the Boulder, Colorado area, Jenn co-founded a local resident advocacy group to provide direct resources and support to her community during its recovery. After a year of impactful leadership in disaster recovery, Jenn transitioned to the policy side by successfully running for a seat on City Council, where she continues to drive systemic change.

She has also played a pivotal role as counsel for residents and county governments in the Maui fire recovery, leveraging her expertise to aid communities in crisis. Passionate about shaping disaster recovery policy, Jenn frequently lobbies in Washington, D.C., advocating for legislation that accelerates recovery efforts and secures vital funding for disaster victims. Before her work in Colorado, Jenn served as a U.S. Diplomat with postings in Qatar (2017–2020) and Jordan (2013–2015) where she volunteered with the Syrian refugee community, supporting language learning initiatives and providing critical resources to displaced individuals.

Reina Arai Pomeroy

Marshall Fire (2021 )

Survivor - Total Loss

Subject Matter Expertise: Digital Communities + Leadership; Post-Disaster Community Advocacy (State and Local)

Reina Pomeroy is a Marshall Fire total loss survivor, in the process of rebuilding her home. She co-founded Marshall Together, a grassroots non-profit organization built by fire survivors with the mission to get as many people home as possible.   

Early in the Marshall Fire recovery, Reina leveraged her professional background in virtual community building and built a Slack and email list of verified fire survivors. This resource has become the source of truth for many who are in the process of recovering. Through organizing and partnerships, the Marshall Together organization has been able to advocate for tangible changes that have put millions of dollars back into the pockets of survivors and gotten more families home at an unprecedented speed of recovery.