Dear Friends of TEA,
2025 was an incredible year for The Ember Alliance. Our passionate TEAm has accomplished so much, and we continue to blossom. From writing four new Community Wildfire Protection Plans to training nearly 500 students and landowners, and supporting tip-of-the-spear wildland fire research to bringing together 20 agencies to learn to burn together, we are fostering the systems-level change we want to see in the fire management community.
This past year, I learned the true meaning of our name. It’s our superpower. The Ember Alliance. By investing in people and relationships, TEA finds common ground and builds community-centric fire culture. Together.
A colleague recently mentioned a quote from trailblazing tennis star Billie Jean King, “pressure is privilege.” TEA digs into barriers that prevent our partners from using beneficial fire and tackles them head-on. It takes time. It is often difficult. But it is an earned opportunity, not a burden. At TEA, we are honored to have a seat at the table to effect real change.
I experienced this personally as well. 2025 was a year of growth as I stretched far outside of my comfort zone to tackle policy and fundraising. The support I felt was overwhelming. My hope is we can all feel this way as we continue to find our way back to a positive relationship with fire. Together.
With Gratitude,
Jennifer Mueller, CEO, The Ember Alliance
