"The Block Captain System: Community-Led Recovery After Fire"

This engaging session features Jeff Okrepkie, a survivor of the 2017 Tubbs Fire and co-founder of Coffey Strong, alongside fellow community leaders Brad Sherwood, Darragh Danton, Steve Rahmn, and Patty Ratermann. Together, they share how local residents organized through the Block Captain System—a grassroots network that connects neighbors, rebuilds trust, and accelerates disaster recovery. The discussion explores how survivors from Sonoma County, Pacific Palisades, and Altadena built community resilience, fostered leadership, and used technology and compassion to support long-term recovery. The panel highlights the power of everyday people stepping up after disaster to lead, heal, and rebuild together.

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