022: Day 2: Frontline Support of the Most Vulnerable Through Grassroots Leadership After Megafires

• 2024 WILDFIRE LEADERSHIP SUMMIT
  

 

Episode Description: 

“We are making a change and we are making a difference, and it all starts with culture.” —Kukui Keahi

“[The silver lining] is neighbors helping neighbors.” —Melissa Baurer

“Our mission is simple: provide beautiful, healthful, love-filled food so that those experiencing crisis can have the strength to do the next hard thing. Food is just the first step.” —Amber Ferguson

 “I was tired of cash being the most valuable thing, and what really drove decisions. And I started to dive into experiments on how we re-evaluate caring and bring it up as a currency.” —Nicole Huguenin

“If you don't have the most vulnerable at the round table, invite them in, because if they're not there, we're going to continuously design programs that fail. And if we catch the most vulnerable, we will catch everyone else.” —Rebekah Uccellini-Kuby

 

Disasters often hit vulnerable communities the hardest, but grassroots leaders are stepping up to meet their unique needs. From providing essential resources to fostering community resilience, these frontline responders are redefining disaster recovery. 

Moderating the discussion is Lorez Bailey, who shares her own experience supporting youth in the aftermath of the Sonoma County fires. Joining her on the panel are Nicole Huguenin of Maui Rapid Response, Amber Ferguson of Rogue Food Unites, Melissa Baurer of Santiam Hospital, Kukui Keahi of Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, and Rebekah Uccellini-Kuby of Makai Foundation. 

 

Tune in as these inspiring leaders delve into the challenges of identifying vulnerable populations, overcoming systemic obstacles, practicing self-care, and finding silver linings in the midst of crisis.

 

Connect with After The Fire USA: 

• Website: https://afterthefireusa.org/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AfterTheFireUSA
• X: https://twitter.com/AfterTheFireUSA
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afterthefireusa/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/atf3r
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuTefxZgWUJkDVoZGZQpxgQ

Highlights:

• 00:22 Be Careful of Mission Drift
• 03:54 Meet Rebekah, Kukui, Nicole, Amber, and Melissa  
• 16:13 How to Identify the Vulnerable and Their Needs   
• 30:59 Self-Care for the Helpers 
• 35:13 Silver Linings

 

Meet the Moderator:

👩🏻‍💼 Lorez Bailey, Community Leader

Lorez Bailey is an Executive Officer at Chop’s Teen Club. Her charm is in being charismatic, analytical, problem-solver, and effective communicator who has a successful 10-year track record of effectively leading organizations and teams, and a history of developing and operationalized strategies that have taken organizations to the next stage of growth, while building a culture of high expectations, inclusivity, collaboration, and a little fun never hurts. 

• LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorez-bailey-221778100

 

Connect with Chops Teen Club: 

• Website: https://www.chopsteenclub.org/  
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/341599776289226 
• X: https://x.com/chopsteenclub 

 

Meet the Panel: 

👩🏻‍💼  Melissa Baurer, Integrated Health and Outreach Director, Santiam Hospital & Clinics

Melissa Baurer is the executive director of the disaster case management program at Santiam Hospital and Clinics in Oregon. With a background in social services, Melissa has dedicated her career to addressing the social needs of individuals as part of healthcare. She was instrumental in establishing the Service Integration program, which brings together faith-based organizations, nonprofits, government agencies, and businesses to collaboratively meet the needs of the community. 

When the Beachie Creek and Lionshead fires impacted the region in 2020, Melissa's team was able to quickly mobilize and provide support to survivors, leveraging the existing relationships and resources of the Service Integration program. Melissa is committed to ensuring that all community members have access to the resources and support they need, especially during times of crisis.

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-baurer-26824213b/ 
• Connect with Santiam Hospital: 
• Website: https://santiamhospital.org/ 

 

👩🏻‍💼Amber Ferguson, Executive Director/CEO, Rogue Food Unites

Amber Ferguson is the executive director of Rogue Food Unites, an organization she founded in response to the 2020 wildfires in Oregon. With a background in the hospitality and food and beverage industries, Amber was driven to provide immediate support to those displaced by the fires. Rogue Food Unites initially set out to provide hot meals three times a day to thousands of people, creating relationships with existing food businesses to both support the local economy and care for the community. 

Over the past four years, Rogue Food Unites' programs have evolved to address the ongoing needs of the region, fostering new community connections and building trust. Amber is committed to providing "beautiful, healthful, love-filled food" to those experiencing crisis, recognizing that food is just the first step in supporting community resilience. Her work has had a lasting impact on the physical and mental health of those affected by the wildfires, and she continues to advocate for innovative, community-driven approaches to disaster response.

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amber-ferguson-656733251/ 
• Connect with Rogue Foods:
• Website: https://www.roguefoodunites.org/

 

👩🏻‍💼Nicole Huguenin, Co-Director and Founder, Maui Rapid Response

Nicole Huguenin is a generous entrepreneur with a diverse background in nonprofits and teaching. Her professional journey took a turn in 2012 when she became dissatisfied with the role of cash as the primary driver of decision-making, and she began exploring ways to revalue caring and aloha as currencies. This led to her involvement in many different projects, including her current role as the executive director of My Rapid Response, a disaster relief organization. 

Nicole's personal experiences as a survivor of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake and the 2013 Boulder, Colorado floods have deeply shaped her approach to disaster response. She is committed to building trust and deepening community connections, often choosing to stay out of traditional systems in order to better support the most vulnerable populations. Nicole's work has focused on fostering new and robust community relationships, with the belief that community-led efforts are essential for effective disaster recovery and resilience.

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-huguenin-b5566920/ 
• Connect with Maui Rapid Response:
• Website: https://mauirapidresponse.org/

 

👩🏻‍💼Kukui Keahi, Community Care Navigator Lead, Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA)

Kukui Keahi is a nine-generation survivor from Lahaina, Maui, with deep roots in the community. Her family background has instilled in her a strong sense of responsibility to give back to the place that raised her. Kukui currently oversees the Maui operations for the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA), where she has been instrumental in the organization's disaster recovery efforts.

After the devastating fires that impacted Lahaina, Kukui was able to leverage her existing relationships and community knowledge to quickly identify the needs of the most vulnerable populations, including the elderly and multi-generational families. Under her leadership, CNHA established innovative programs to provide rental assistance, host families, and fill gaps in support that were not being met by other organizations. 

Kukui's commitment to her community and her ability to mobilize resources and foster collaboration have been invaluable in Maui's disaster recovery process. She continues to work tirelessly to ensure that the voices and needs of Native Hawaiians are centered in the rebuilding and reimagining of Lahaina.

Connect with Hawaiian Council: 

• Website: https://www.hawaiiancouncil.org/ 

 

👩🏻‍💼Rebekah Uccellini-Kuby, Executive Director, Makai Foundation

Rebekah Uccellini-Kuby has a background in regenerative system design and a deep commitment to addressing issues of access and equity. Growing up with parents who were a spiritual anthropologist, Rebekah's upbringing instilled in her a global perspective and a passion for supporting marginalized communities.

Rebekah's work has taken her to various disaster-affected regions, including Sonoma County, the Santa Cruz Mountains, and Maui. She has witnessed firsthand the challenges that vulnerable populations face in the aftermath of crises and has dedicated herself to finding innovative, community-driven solutions. 

Whether it was supporting the creation of mutual aid organizations, establishing land-based disaster recovery centers, or advocating for systemic changes to better support the most vulnerable, Rebekah has consistently prioritized the needs of those who are often overlooked. Her holistic approach to disaster response, grounded in regenerative principles and a deep respect for local knowledge, has made her a valuable asset to the communities she serves.

Rebekah's commitment to empowering local leaders and centering the voices of the marginalized has been a driving force in her work, as she believes that true resilience can only be achieved through community-led efforts.

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebekah-uccellini-kuby-92863b29/ 
• Connect with Makai Foundation: 
• Website: https://makai.org/