Earlier this month, in San Francisco, we held a hopeful celebration marking our 20th anniversary. 20 years of proof that, when local communities lead, real change happens: healthy people, healthy forests, and a healthy planet.
The event was led by key HIH and community voices, with over 150 attendees. We’re grateful to all who joined us – and to Health In Harmony’s supporters who couldn’t make it, for your dedication so far, and commitment to the growth and impact ahead.
As Dr. Eugenia Millender, Health In Harmony’s incoming board chair, put it to guests:
“As a descendant of the Guna people of Panama, I also carry my ancestors' teachings, who understood that caring for Mother Earth is a responsibility we hold for generations to come. That is what makes this moment so meaningful to me. For two decades, Health In Harmony has shown us what is possible when we listen to communities, trust their knowledge, and support them in leading their own solutions. As we look toward the next 20 years, my hope is that we continue to honor those who came before us while opening doors for those who will follow, leaving a healthier world for people, forests, and our planet.”
The evening had an atmosphere of contagious optimism, bringing together those who have supported HIH since its beginnings in Indonesian Borneo, as well as more recent partners and supporters.
Speakers included Dr. Kinari Webb, who founded HIH in 2006, and shared with outgoing Board Chair, Steve Kusmer, about the beginnings of HIH and the remarkable global impact of community-led climate solutions so far:
“For the Earth, the heart and lungs are the rainforests. Like a heart, they pump life-giving water all over the planet, providing rainfall all the way here to the coast of California and beyond. And then like the lungs, they exchange carbon and oxygen – absorbing CO2 and cooling our planet – and giving the rest of us the oxygen that we need. Each of our lungs are connected through that oxygen to rainforests half a world away in Brazil, Indonesia, Panama, DRC, and Madagascar. This interconnectedness is what we mean when we say healthy people, healthy forests, healthy planet.”
Yani Saloh, board chair of HIH’s Indonesian partner ASRI, shared stories from the wisdom and spirit of the communities of West Kalimantan, Borneo, as well as giving a heartfelt update on the fires in Kalimantan:
“In September, the fires were just 300 meters from our clinic in Sukadana. Toxic smoke filled the air. Our colleagues were exhausted. But still, the ASRI clinic stayed open. For many families, leaving meant abandoning everything, their homes, gardens, and livelihoods. With no insurance and their income tied to the land, many had little choice but to stay. Thousands of miles away, I read their messages and updates, and I committed myself to do more to help. Each of us can make that same commitment.”
HIH Co-CEOs Ashley Emerson and Jonathan Jennings thanked guests with a galvanizing reminder of why we were gathered:
“We stand before you as the co-CEOs of an organization focused on planetary health in a time of crisis for our planet. Rising temperatures caused by extreme extractivism and abuse of our planet are having devastating consequences across the globe. However, we have hope: recognizing and resourcing rainforest communities is one of the fastest, most affordable climate solutions we have, and it’s working. 20-years on, we have spread to five continents, working beside over 300k community members, with tangible and growing impact on planetary health.”
They also made an exciting announcement: the generosity of donors Ibu Liz and Michael Bauman who, between them, pledged $1.5 million as a matching gift for HIH’s 2026 End of Year Campaign, and to inspire others to keep supporting rainforest communities.
Indigenous activist and DJ Eric Terena took to the decks, after introducing an update on Xipaya documentary Yanuni hitting 10M million views on YouTube. (Learn more about the documentary and the Xipaya struggle here).
Attendees were left with a powerful message from guest speaker and MC, the environmental justice organizer, scholar, and artist, Alexia Leclercq: “Before a caterpillar becomes a butterfly, much of its body turns to goo. Yet tucked inside are tiny pockets of cells that already hold the instructions for its new wings. I like to think we're in the goo stage right now, but Mother Earth has already written the instructions for a sustainable future. We just need to be brave enough to act.”
