The 2025 Wildfire Leadership Summit Recap: The Power of Ohana

Last week in Sonoma, After the Fire USA hosted the 2025 Wildfire Leadership Summit, a three-day gathering of fire survivors, community leaders, frontline workers, and policymakers from across the country and beyond. Together, we explored what it means to lead through disaster, to recover with resilience, and to imagine a safer, stronger future for wildfire-impacted communities.

The theme of this year’s Summit, The Power of Ohana: Community-Led Recovery in a Disrupted World, was reflected in every session and conversation. From heartfelt keynotes to technical panels, to the informal moments of connection in the lounge and over shared meals, participants brought both honesty and hope to the work ahead.

Day 1

The Summit opened with music and welcome from Kainoa Horcajo and Aloe Blacc, followed by a keynote from Miguel Santana, President and CEO of the California Community Foundation, on resilience through philanthropy. Panels throughout the day explored home plan libraries, toxic debris, community recovery funding, and the power of frontline leadership.

We were honored to welcome Renae Hanvin, Founder and CEO of Resilient Ready, who traveled from Australia to deliver a keynote on how social capital builds disaster resilience. The day ended with reflections on the importance of connecting across firelines and a wine reception that carried the spirit of ohana into the night.

Day 2

Day two began with Katie Simmons of Butte County, who shared leadership lessons from the frontlines. Sessions that followed addressed wildfire-prepared homes, reimagining land after fire, and supporting community leaders beyond the immediate crisis.

A keynote by Alena Wall of Kaiser Permanente highlighted the need to sustain leaders long after the headlines fade. Panels on mental health, faith, and healing deepened that message, while stories from Block Captains and community representatives demonstrated how neighbors step into leadership when disaster strikes.

The afternoon addressed the toxic trails left behind in soil, water, and air, and the challenges of navigating federal systems. Pete Gaynor, former FEMA Administrator and President at Bright Harbor, shared practical insights in his keynote on persistence and advocacy. The day closed with a vision for climate-resilient rebuilding, reminding us of the future we must actively shape.

Day 3

The final day opened with remarks from Sam Shockley of Amazon, who shared how the company’s strengths in logistics and partnerships can support communities when disaster strikes. Her message highlighted both the speed of response and the importance of lasting impact.

The morning sessions lifted up stories of innovation and advocacy born from fire, showing how startups, grassroots organizers, and local leaders are reshaping what recovery can look like. Voices from places like Altadena and Lahaina reminded us that advocacy is most powerful when it begins with lived experience and community determination.

In the afternoon, speakers explored how technology can be people-centered when it is rooted in trust and designed to serve. From mental health expertise to real-time tools like Watch Duty and PostFire, the focus was on how innovation can strengthen resilience when it stays close to the ground.

The Summit closed with a moving keynote from Mayor Richard Bissen of Maui, who played the ukulele while his wife danced the hula — a gift of aloha and hope. Jennifer Gray Thompson then offered closing reflections, bringing the Summit full circle and sending participants home with renewed determination.

Gratitude

We are deeply grateful to all of our speakers and participants for their wisdom and courage, and to the sponsors who made this gathering possible.