The Wildfire Project
The Wildfire Project strengthens social movements across sector by supporting grassroots groups to transform and spread a thriving culture: groups resilient in the face of changing terrain, who know how to strategize, are grounded in history and their vision, have a connection to a “north star” bigger than themselves, have healthy internal practices, know how to build across identity, are rooted in compassion and gratitude, can navigate contradiction, and are prepared to grow and win material gains toward freedom.[1]
Wildfire staff
The Wildfire Project staff 2021:
- Joshua Kahn Russell, Executive Director
- Lisa Juachon, Operations Director
- Michael Strom, Program Director
Facilitation Team
The Wildfire Project has a team of 17 experienced facilitators, all of whom are leaders in a wide range of movement sectors and issue areas. Many of these practitioner-facilitators emerged from the organizations we’ve partnered with, and now make up our Leadership Team – which is one way that Wildfire is led by its grassroots base. This team keeps us rooted in many different movement arenas, allowing us to cross-pollinate cutting edge innovation and insights from different social change efforts across the country. We are proud that our team is active in the movements they serve on the ground, and distilling these insights allows us to be uniquely multi-sectoral.
Akua Deirdre Smith, Andrew Smith, BJ Star, Catherine Salonek, Claire Bergren, Ileia J. Burgos, Jonel Edwards, Joshua Kahn Russell, Executive Director , Kirin Kanakkanatt, Lex Barlowe, Lu Aya Nephew, Michael Strom, Sachie Hayakawa, Sam Corbin, Sherika Shaw, Sofia Campos, Yotam Marom.
Advisory Board
The Wildfire Project is grateful to have the support of an esteemed board of writers, thought leaders, organizers, trainers, activists, artists and facilitators. The hundreds of years of experience between them helps to guide Wildfire’s direction, strategy and practices.
Brooke Lehman, Carinne Luck, Clayton Thomas Muller, Farhad Ebrahimi, George Lakey, Harmony Goldberg, Jonathan Smucker, Naomi Klein, Rafael Navar, Raj Patel, Raquel Lavina, Sumitra Rajkumar, Willie Baptist.
Testimonials
- Eriel Tchekwie Deranger Executive Director, Indigenous Climate Action
- Rachel Gilmer Co-Director, Dream Defenders
- Varshini Prakash co-founder, Sunrise Movement; Divestment Student Network
- Lena Gardner Black Lives Matter & Occupy Homes MN
- Naomi Klein Activist, Author, and a The Wildfire Project Advisory Board Member
- Jasmin Hoo Community Organizer, Asian Pacific Islander Equality Northern California
- Fenton Lutunatabua Coordinator, Pacific Climate Warriors
- Erin Heaney National Director, Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ)
- Steven Pargett Dream Defenders
- Jacynta L. Fa'amau Council of Elders, Pacific Climate Warriors
- Leila Salazar-Lopez Executive Director, Amazon Watch
- Pamela Twiss People’s Action; Community Organizing & Leadership Trainer and Coach
- Kevin Whelan Co-Executive Director, MN350
- Ginger Cassady Executive Director, Rainforest Action Network
- Biola Jeje Co-founder, New York Students Rising & Working Families Party
- Roberto de la Riva Co-Director, Inquilinxs Unidxs por Justicia
- Greta Neubauer Divestment Student Network; Wisconsin State Assembly, 66th District
- Will Lawrence Sunrise Movement & Divestment Student Network
- Kalin Callaghan Organizer, Far Rockaway Wildfire
- Rob Call Lead Organizer, Occupy Our Homes Atlanta
- Conrado Santos Student Immigrant Movement
- Sara Blazevic Co-Founder Sunrise Movement, Divestment Student Network