Grassroots Led & Community Driven

While we work to formally apply for Non-Profit status, we are currently a Fiscal Sponsored Project to help bridge these efforts with Fiscal Sponsorship Allies (EIN: 85-0839183).  We will be working with Harbor Compliance to formally incorporate as a Non-Profit Corporation with the State of California and we will apply for our 501 (c)(3) status within 60 days.  We have filed our DBA and Business License with Solano County, and are registered with the State of California Secretary of State.  We are also excited to partner with Sister Sky Inc for Business Management Services and Technical Assistance, as well as Visionality as a grant consulting firm. 

This Fiscal Sponsorship Agreement (“Agreement”) is made by and between KER BEAR PROJECT REBUILD AFTER VALLEY FIRE COALITION dba BEAR ROOT RESOURCE CENTER (“Sponsee”) and Fiscal Sponsorship Allies, Inc. (“Sponsor”). Sponsee is California Sole Proprietorship. Sponsor is an Indiana public benefit nonprofit corporation located at 9100 Purdue Road, Suite 115, Indianapolis, IN 46268, and is exempt from federal income tax under § 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (“Code”) and classified as a public charity under Code § 509(a)(3) a Type I Supporting Organization. Sponsor and Sponsee may be each be referred to as a Party and collectively as the Parties.

Previous Fiscal Sponsor:

In 2022, as the Bear Coalition, we reached out to (HRI) Healing Reconciliation Institute for Community consulting that they assisted us with through 2023.  

Historical Timeline: 

• 2023-2024 We took this year to develop our strategic plan and prepare to establish our Non-Profit organization
• 2019-2022 As the "Bear Coalition," We supported our community by Facilitating & Co-hosting a Reconciliation Circle, Cultural Revitalization, Community Empowerment Workshops and Cultural Events 
• 2016 to 2019 We organized and collaborated with other Non-profits and held off developing our own independent Non-profit
• As the "KerBear Coalition," 2015 to 2016, supported Lake, Napa & Sonoma Counties with Wildfire prevention, emergency response, & rebuild support
• 2015 we applied for our EIN Tax ID# 81-0727938

Below are some of the organizations that we have collaborated with over the years.

•  2023 and 2024 Indigenous Module Leadership Training Series 
• December 2022 State of the Region, Land Acknowledgement
• 2022 Keri wrote a Land Acknowledgement for Urban Habit with Blessing from Sogorea Te, and in return Urban Habitat is committed to long-term reciprocity and right relations with Sogorea Te.
• URBAN HABITAT Website
• (BCLI) Boards & Commission Institute

•  Speaker & Land Acknowledgement, Leadership Retreat December 2023
• PowerSwitch Action

•  Speaker at the September 2023, 4th Virtual Summit Series: Climate & Indigenous Leadership
• (CEMTF) Climate Emergency Mobilization Task Force

•  Speaker & Community Youth Cultural Art Event April 2023 
• (YUCA) Youth United for Community Action

• Keri Akemi-Hernandez, Artist created an Art piece titled “Envision a Transformation,” in response to, "Are Prisons Obsolete?"  by Angela Y. Davis
• Reading Work Studio

• 2020, 2021, 2023 Panel Judge at AIBL Business Plan Conference 
• 2021 Guest Speaker at National AIBL & RES Conference
• 2019-2023, California Chapter Development Liaison
• Established Chapters at Napa Valley College, Sonoma State University and San Francisco State University
• AIBL Website

• (NBOP) 2022 Community Recognition and BCLI Nomination
• NBOP Website

• MMIW Peer-to-Peer Training September 2021  
• (NIWRC ) National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center

• Keri was a Co-Founder of Napa & North Bay Rapid Response Network 2016 to 2017
• North Bay Organizing Project Stewardship of Rapid Response Network in 2017 to Present, which expanded across California in multiple locations

• Napa County Housing Commissioner, Chair, 2020 to 2027 (2nd Term)
• Keri has served on the Napa County Housing Commission since 2020 and has served as Chair since Fall of 2023. Their focus has been on advocacy for migrant farmworkers, affordable housing for families, equity through language justice, and awareness of our indigenous population which comprises 30% of our farmworker community. 
• Napa Valley College, D.E.I. Committee Member 2023 to 2024
• North Bay Next, State of Housing, (BAHFA) Bay Area Housing Finance      Authority, $10 to $20 Billion Affordable Housing 2024 California San Francisco Bay Area 9 Bay Area County Bond Measure, Napa County Sub-Committee to recommend budget for Napa Board of Supervisors and Generation Housing "State of Housing" Napa Valley report acknowledges Keri as a Steering Committee Member.
• Napa County (H.E.A.C.) Housing Element Advisory Committee Co-Chair, 2022 to 2023 
• Napa County Housing Report 2023
• Napa County H.E.A.C.  Draft Report
• Napa County H.E.A.C. Community Outreach Language Justice Workshop
• Napa County Mental Health Cultural Competency Advisory Committee 06/2019 to Present
• Napa County Cultural Competency Advisory Committee FY 23-24 Report
• Napa County Mental Health Board Member 2020 to 2023
• Napa County Mental Health Board 2022-2023 Annual Report
• Napa County Mental Health Board 2021-2022 Annual Report
• Napa County Mental Health Board Work Group Chair, Mental Health Services for Women and Children Survivors of Violence Presentation, 2022 Napa County Research and Recommendations for Mental Health Needs 
• Napa & Solano Medical Society (NSMS), Annual Event Fundraising Chair, 2019 to January 2024 
• Napa Land Trust Keri became a liaison for the Indigenous community and initiated conversations with stakeholders about cultural fire. Reintroduction of “good fire” to Napa's landscape will be transformative. Through Keri’s advocacy, the community that has conducted control burns here for millennia has a voice.
• October 2021, Keri spoke at the “Growers and Vintners for Responsible Ag Conference,” at Spottswoode Estate in St. Helena, by Amber Manfree's invitation. Keri discussed the intersectionality of natural resources management, climate change mitigation, and Indigenous cultural resources as an interlocking solution for restoring balance.
• September 2021, Keri spoke at a Napa County Groundwater Sustainability Plan public meeting to advocate for consideration of the impacts of overdraft on homeowners and underserved community members.  Learn More about the Napa County Ground Water Sustainability plan and view the presentation here.
• Through the Summer of 2021, Keri collaborated with community leaders, biologists, and scientists to bring awareness about the benefits of restoring beaver habitat along the Napa River. For example, increasing the beaver population up-valley will improve the health of our aquatic systems.
• June 2021, Keri spoke at the “Honor Native Fishes” event at Wappo Park in St. Helena, which I helped organize. This event highlighted the drying of the Napa River, likely due to groundwater overdraft, and the impact this has on fishes and our community. Keri brought attention to how the health of our Napa Valley waterways and native species populations have declined due to the loss of Indigenous stewardship.
• Napa Valley Film Festival Educational Team & Outreach Member 2020
• Class 30 Alumni with Leadership Napa Valley 2016 to 2017
• Community Advocate, Napa Valley Dream Team 01/2014 to 2017
• Former Public Relations, Communications Director, Co-Chair, National Bi-National Health Alliance, with Napa County Chapter 01/2016 to 03/2019 
• 2016 Bi-National Health Fair
• Community Advocate,  Citizenship Legal Services, 01/2014 to 12/2016 
• Habitat for Humanity, Home Builder and Fundraising Volunteer, (Locations: Contra Costa, Solano, Napa & Lake County), 01/2000 to 2020