riseUP and REBUILD NORTHBAY "Together We Can"
Jennifer Gray Thompson, Executive Director (above right) and Ekko-Sophie Ezaki, Program Manager (above left) of Rebuild Northbay Foundation (RNBF), an organization offering "RiseUp Community Impact Grants" for long-term support of fire survivors and organizations serving fire affected communities, praised Sunrise Rotarians for sponsorship of similar grant support. Jennifer and Henry Hansel, prominent member of the RNBF board (pictured below), reviewed various types of available grants focused on creating and preserving more sustainable and resilient communities.
Working in partnership with Friedman's Home Improvement and community volunteers, RBNF built a fence in Larkfield Wickiup that is helping this fire-sticken area return to vibrancy. The project, now completed, is an example of the RBNF policy to create rebuilding programs based on asking communities "What can we do to help?" rather than presuming to understand specific local needs.
In January 2018, a contingent of northbay business and community leaders traveled to Washington DC to meet with the national budget office staff on disaster relief. This bi-partisan effort also sought out Pelosi, Feinstein and other federal and state leaders advocating for the attention and support of government agencies.
"Recover Rebuild Reimagine" is the RNBF vision for the next 10 to 20 years of dedicated effort that will eventually reclaim the 53 Northbay Counties affected by fire since 2017. A coalition of government, business, labor and community leaders, working with organizations like RNBF and United Way of the Wine Country will make this possible, while also providing for prevention of future disasters.
