About Us

Our Purpose

To inspire, connect, and nurture the next generation of change leaders

---

Our Vision

A thriving, just, and sustainable world guided by change leaders grounded in kindness, gratitude, and purpose

---

Our Mission

 To provide digital resources that offer aspiring change leaders the clarity, skills, knowledge, and connections they need to build a brighter world.

---

Our Values

• Kindness: The practice of treating all living beings as kin, regardless of belief, identity, ability, or behavior.
• Gratitude: Remembering the beauty, kindness, and possibility all around us offers us the inspiration and energy needed to foster change.
• Possibility: What’s possible for our world is mostly limited by our own imagination and courage. As change leaders, we not only foster practical change today, but dare to dream into being the most beautiful world we can imagine for tomorrow.

---

What is Kindling?

Kindling is a 501c3 nonprofit based in Bellingham, WA, USA inspiring, connecting, and nurturing the next generation of change leaders.

We cultivate the world’s largest database of social change milestones, the Archive of Human Genius, documenting human progress and moments of genius from prehistory to the present. Our global map shows that change is not only possible but happening all around us every day. By reminding the world that humanity is beautiful, we transform cynicism and despair into possibility and action.

We host Teal Pages, an online directory of systems change leaders, organizations, campaigns, products, and resources for a more sustainable, equitable, and prosperous future for all. Our database provides a constantly growing map of the global network of change and connects people around the world to the change efforts most relevant to them.

We develop and manage Change 101 (launch forthcoming), an online curriculum and social commons for aspiring change leaders to gain skills, knowledge, and connections so that they can: Discover their own unique values, strengths, and purpose Develop and implement personal change plans Drive personal, community, and systems change

---

Meet The Team

Peter Schulte is the Founder and Executive Director of Kindling. Peter is also Engagement Lead for the Pacific Institute and Senior Advisor for the UN Global Compact, connecting businesses to sustainable water practices. Peter holds a B.S. in Conservation and Resource Studies and a B.A. in Comparative Literature from University of California, Berkeley, and an M.B.A. in Sustainable Systems from Pinchot University. He lives in Bellingham, WA, USA with his wife, son, and cat.

Learn more about Peter and why he founded Kindling

---

Cecilia Lopez has been a supporter of Kindling since the beginning and currently serves as Finance Director and as a board member. She has over 16 years of accounting and finance experience, and holds a B.S. from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, and a M.B.A. in Sustainable Systems from Pinchot University. Cecilia is also a cofounder of Handprint.io, a career platform connecting people to purpose-driven work at conscious companies. She lives in Ojai, CA with her partner and two dogs.

---

Jeff Uzzel is a brand consultant, designer and filmmaker who helps purpose-driven organizations tell their unique stories and connect with people in meaningful ways. He has a B.A. in English from Kennesaw State University and studied Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia before moving to California in 2010. After working in the entertainment industry for several years, he joined a startup media production company as Creative Director and discovered his passion for filmmaking. In addition to serving Kindling as Brand Director, Jeff is an avid singer-songwriter and enjoys producing music videos for the independent record label Underground Sun. He lives with his partner Cecilia and their two dogs in Ojai, California.

---

Clare is a white bodied cis woman living on occupied Duwamish and Coast Salish territory and waters with her family. She believes in putting people first and working to be in right relationship with ourselves, one another and this earth to nurture and build meaningful connections and inspire change. As a basket weaver, she’s happy to support, listen, act and build with others to facilitate and lead behind the scenes. She joined Kindling in 2021 to begin to create a virtual community through Kindling’s Change 101, and facilitate the space and ensure opportunities for anyone to show up as the change maker they authentically are. Clare is interested in expanding Kindling’s network of amazing partners to further support and collaborate around igniting change. Reach out to Clare at: clareszalayhowell@gmail.com.

---

---

Tanatchapoom (Tony) Mueantonthian comes from Thailand and currently lives in Bellingham, Washington. He is a recent graduate from Western Washington University and pursuing a career as a visual journalist. He loves spending his free time on something that requires a lot of concentration, such as making a diorama model for a photoshoot.

---

David Schakarov is a Western Washington University student majoring in Human Services and minoring in Economics. David is a pharmacy assistant at a local pharmacy in Bellingham. He likes to listen to music, play video games, and watch basketball. Originally from Los Angeles, this is his fourth year in Bellingham. He is graduating in June and plans to get his masters degree in mental health counseling.

---

Board of Directors

---