By Solomon O. Smith | California Black Media
Dozens of community service organizations, local leaders, advocates, and survivors gathered on Aug. 2 at the Pasadena Hilton for the Eaton Fire Senior Summit.
Titled “Rebuilding with Resilience,” the event was held to support seniors whose homes were lost or damaged in the Eaton Fire, which burned more than 14,000 acres and destroyed 9,418 structures in Altadena and Pasadena.
The summit was organized by Lena L. Kennedy, CEO of Community Women Vital Voices, a Pasadena native with deep roots in the city. With help from her daughter, granddaughter, and a team of volunteers, Kennedy brought together faith groups, nonprofits, and government agencies at the local, state, and federal levels.
L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, Congresswoman Judy Chu (D-CA-28), Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo, and Pasadena City Councilmember Tyron Hampton delivered updates to constituents during the luncheon.
Kennedy said she hopes the event will inspire more community involvement.
“We want people that could help … to step up,” said Kennedy. “I’m asking people to step up in a way where you talk to people, like myself, and the people that I deal with, so that your money will live beyond the Eaton fire.”
The day included workshops on rebuilding, state regulations, taxes, soil and water testing, modular homes, and financial assistance. Organizations such as Catholic Charities of California, the U.S. Small Business Administration, and the DENA Forward Alliance hosted booths offering on-the-spot resources.
“Seniors were disproportionately impacted by this fire, especially up in Altadena, and it’s important for us to give them hope, because it is overwhelming,” said Barger. “So summits like this are important to not only gather the facts and to make decisions, but also it’s a chance to be amongst others.”
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors governs unincorporated areas such as Altadena. Barger’s Fifth District includes both Altadena and Pasadena — collectively referred to by locals as “DENA.”
She acknowledged that much work remains and said she is collaborating with city and state officials to rebuild infrastructure that will support the new homes and buildings envisioned for the area. For those unable to attend the summit, Barger recommended accessing services at the Altadena Community Center, which has been designated as a fire survivor hub.
Organizers said the summit was also intended to remind those affected by the fire — especially residents in unincorporated Altadena — that they are not alone.
Hampton, a well-known and respected figure in the community, was warmly greeted as he walked through the concourse, shaking hands and consoling seniors still dealing with loss.
One of those seniors was Dianne Lewis.
Lewis was able to get assistance and advice on updating her living will. Like many others who lost their homes, she is overwhelmed—rebuilding her life, coping with grief, and continuing to run the Alkebu-lan Cultural Center, one of the few Black cultural institutions in the Valley. She is also a strong advocate for Black elders. Last year, she traveled with Congresswoman Chu to Washington, D.C., to advocate for Black homeowners in Altadena.
“I lost my will. They’re going to redo it for me. My living trust — they’re going to redo it for me. That’s something I don’t have to worry about,” said Lewis. “To see my colleagues and the people that I work with in the community here — us together — is positive and helps us to feel like we can get through this.”
Jacquelyn Dupont-Walker, a longtime advocate for Black elders, served as banquet host and co-organizer of the summit. She also serves on the Metro Board with Barger and has been active on the frontlines of recovery efforts in Altadena.
For many seniors, navigating emergency services and online forms can be a major challenge. At the summit, affected homeowners were able to schedule meetings with coaches to help guide them through the fire recovery process.
Some Black seniors remain displaced. Chu said she is advocating for FEMA’s Direct Leasing Program to ease housing costs, but according to the Los Angeles Times, FEMA has said the program is not needed in Altadena.
Meanwhile, some homeowners are growing fatigued. They face slow and complicated insurance claim processes, along with the high costs of rent and rebuilding permits.
Organizers said the Altadena Senior Center is another resource, offering information and connections to key services.
Gordo and other local leaders reaffirmed their commitment to helping displaced homeowners rebuild on their land.
“We don’t have all the resources we wish we had, but there are certainly resources that we can marshal through the nonprofit and foundation community, as well as through our own communities, to be of assistance,” said Gordo. “So, ask for help if you need it, and we’ll be prepared to give it when asked.”
The next Eaton Fire Senior Summit will be held on Dec. 13.