For more than 30 years, they were neighbors on a quiet cul-de-sac beneath the foothills of Altadena — sharing not just a street, but also a neighborhood. Then the wildfires came, scattering them miles away to separate lives in temporary housing. And yet, in a twist that felt almost too unlikely to be coincidence, they found each other again— neighbors once more, this time in the same apartment complex in Monrovia.
CCF announced this week grants to more than 20 community organizations through its recently activated Impact Fund, to provide immediate relief to Boyle Heights and surrounding Eastside communities impacted by this week's warehouse fire. Grants will help support immediate community needs like food, masks, air purifiers, and other basic need essentials
The Pasadena Jewish Temple & Center (PJTC) has operated for the past 18 months without a permanent home after the Eaton Fire destroyed its historic campus. Yet from a network of temporary locations, the congregation is thriving.
In a cheery cafe in Venice, Melissa Iles comes off the streets weary and hungry after another night trying to find somewhere safe to lay her head. She is greeted by smiling servers, hot coffee and a meal of pancakes, eggs, home fries and watermelon – a “soothing” experience, she says.
A year and a half after the devastation of the Palisades Fire, sparks of green are emerging from the ash thanks to Resilient Palisades, a group of resident-activists dedicated to helping the local community recover and thrive. The community group recently hosted a hands-on bioremediation workshop near Will Rogers Beach to teach fellow residents how they can play a role in critical soil restoration.
Joy Chen already survived one devastating wildfire. Nearly 18 months later, she had a chance to help shape who pays for the next one. The executive director of the Every Fire Survivor’s Network (EFSN), Chen has helped build a community of thousands as they relay their uphill struggle to recover and return home.