ABOUT
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
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.
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, possibility, and purpose
Our Mission
To provide resources so that aspiring change leaders have the clarity, skills, knowledge, and connections they need to live their purpose and contribute to a brighter world.
What is Kindling?
We are a 501c3 nonprofit based in Bellingham, WA, USA offering aspiring change leaders the inspiration, tools, and guidance they need to kindle a brighter future for all.
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, a series of online guides 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
Our Team
Peter Schulte
Executive Director
Peter Schulte is the Founder and Executive Director of Kindling. Peter also serves as Senior Advisor for the Pacific Institute and 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, two sons, and cat.
Learn more about Peter and why he founded Kindling
Cecilia Lopez
Finance Director
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 Uzell
Brand Director
Jeff Uzzel is a brand consultant, designer, and filmmaker who helps purpose-driven organizations tell their unique stories. He has a B.A. in English from Kennesaw State University and studied Journalism & Mass Communication at the University of Georgia. After working in the entertainment industry for several years, he joined a startup media production company as Creative Director. Jeff is an avid singer-songwriter and enjoys producing music videos. He lives with his partner and their two dogs in Ojai, California.
Clare Szalay Timbo
Community Director
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 help create opportunities for anyone to show up as the change maker they authentically are.
Board of Directors
Emily Affolter
Prescott, AZ
Aric Ho
Seattle, WA
Cecilia Lopez
Ojai, CA
Peter Schulte
Bellingham, WA
