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, an online curriculum 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

Executive Director

Bellingham, WA, USA
he/him

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 the 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

Finance Director

Ojai, CA, USA
she/her/ella

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 an 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

Brand Director

Ojai, CA, USA
he/him

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 Szalay Timbo

Community & Partnerships Director

Seattle, WA, USA
she/her

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.