Governor Gavin Newsom Issues Proclamation Declaring February 2025 as Black History Month, Recognizes Altadena

This month, we pay homage to the rich history and contributions of Black Americans who have shaped our state and nation in countless ways through centuries of struggle and triumph. First proposed by scholar Carter G. Woodson in 1926, Black History Month lifts up the Black experience in a fuller telling of America’s story, and selects a theme to highlight facets of history that merit particular attention. 
 
This year’s theme, Black Americans and labor, examines the intersection of employment and work with the Black American experience. From the atrocity of slavery to the rich legacy of Black entrepreneurship, the profound impact of Black labor in building and shaping our nation cannot be overstated.
 
American and Californian history has no shortage of Black business owners, labor leaders, CEOs, workers, and more. From the first years of California’s statehood, we have been home to changemakers like Mary Ellen Pleasant, one of the first self-made Black millionaires in the country, who owned numerous businesses and used her money to help fund the Underground Railroad and other abolition work.
 
Black communities and businesses have flourished throughout California. Altadena became the special community it is, home to a thriving middle-class community of professionals familiar with shattering glass ceilings. With twice the national Black homeownership rate, Altadena is home to scores of generational wealth and wide-reaching, beloved businesses. And as Altadena recovers from the devastation of the Eaton fires, we recognize, as a state, our responsibility to help support that recovery.
 
Black Americans have always contributed to our shared communities, our state, and our nation. In every role, from labor leaders to essential workers to CEOs, Black Californians have helped make this state the fifth-largest economy in the world, a leader in workers’ rights, and a state that stands for and supports workers and work across the board.
 
During Black History Month, let us reflect on our shared history, and draw inspiration from the progress made as we continue together on the path toward equality, liberty, and opportunity for all.

Black History Month: Stories of Altadena & Altadenans

For stories of Altadena and Altadenans, visit https://www.altadenalibrary.org/news/stories-altadena-altadenans.

FEMA Recovery Centers

Open 9am-8pm daily

1-800-621-3362 

Forms (to Opt-In or Opt-Out) for Debris Removal Now Available

1. Property owners do NOT need to sign up for Phase 1 household hazardous debris removal. However, if your property has been damaged or destroyed, it must pass a Phase 1 household hazardous debris inspection and clearance by the EPA before being eligible for moving into Phase 2 removal of the remaining fire debris.
2. For Phase 2, property owners need to decide whether to opt in for free cleanup by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers or opt out and pay a specialized, approved contractor to remove the remaining fire debris, following all necessary requirements, rules and regulations.
3. Property owners won’t be able to get a Phase 2 permit unless they have received Phase 1 clearance from the EPA.

LA Region Small Business Relief Fund/
LA Region Worker Relief Fund
Applications will open February 2025

 

General access
For general small business support, please contact our Office of Small Business (OSB) at 844-432-4900 or email osb@opportunity.lacounty.gov. 

 

To access virtual America’s Job Centers of California (AJCC) services, visit ajcc.lacounty.gov or email workforce@opportunity.lacounty.gov. 

Please indicate “wildfire assistance” in email subject line for both OSB and AJCC services. Please indicate “wildfire assistance” in email subject line for both OSB and AJCC services.

 

Sign up for a weekly Los Angeles Area Small Business Response & Recovery Webinar (through March) at http://bit.ly/TFLAWebinar 

United Policy Holder’s Helping Homeowners Navigate Wildfire Recovery Options & Insurance Considerations Webinar

Wednesday, Feb. 5, 5pm on Zoom

An informative webinar designed to support homeowners facing total loss due to wildfire. This session will cover key considerations, decision points, and available options for rebuilding or replacing a destroyed home, with insights into insurance and recovery planning. Register here.

 

You can also call the California Department of Insurance at 800-927-4357 with questions.

Or check out their webinar from Jan. 30 on Facebook. 

Caltech Environmental Impacts of Fires at the Wildland-Urban Interface Jan. 31 Webinar

Last Friday, scientists from Caltech, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), and the University of Colorado Boulder shared information about the environmental hazards of smoke, data collected since the January 2025 fires, and lessons learned from previous similar fires.

 

This event was co-sponsored by the Keck Institute for Space Studies, Resnick Sustainability Institute, and Linde Center for Global Environmental Sciences.

SAVE YOUR HOUSE, APARTMENT OR BUSINESS KEY

Be part of the Eaton Fire Keychain Project. Let’s create something from our collective loss. More details to come. https://keychainproject.org/

All Ages Crafternoon

Friday, Feb. 7, 2-6pm

Santa Catalina Branch Library

Express your creativity with other Altadenans! Drop by the Santa Catalina Branch Library for a crafternoon of community and fun!

 

Special thanks to Pasadena Public Library for sharing space!

Altadena Library Offers Two Teen Programs

Friday, Feb. 7 • 3-6pm

Jefferson Branch Library
1500 E Villa St, Pasadena

 

Assistance for Altadena Businesses Affected by Wildfire - Resource Pickup

Tuesdays & Thursdays  • 9am-3pm

Pasadena Federal Credit Union,
1285 Lake Ave., Pasadena

Altadena businesses can N95 masks, air purifiers, portable solar panel power stations, and more!

PACE Rebuilding Homes, Businesses, and Lives After CA Wildfires 

Thursday, Feb. 6, 13, 20, 27 @9am

PACE is offering a 4-session webinar in partnership with Whitestone that provides a comprehensive guide to navigating rebuilding efforts with County and City agencies, including detailed rebuilding guides, executive orders, and essential resources. Sessions are 1-hour each at 9 am on February 6, 13, 20, and 27.

Altadena Reconnects Baby & Toddler Storytimes

Monday, Feb. 10 & Feb. 24 • 10:30-11:30am

Jefferson Branch Library, 1500 E. Villa Street, Pasadena 

Join Altadena Library for baby & toddler storytime at the Jefferson Branch Library in Pasadena! Reconnect with our community as we share stories, books, songs, and rhymes that encourage literacy development and bonding. 

 

A special thank you to Pasadena Public Library for sharing their space with us for these events!

Guidance for Parents & Caregivers After a Wildfire

Children’s reactions to the wildfires and theiraftermath are strongly influenced by how theirparents, teachers, and other caregivers cope duringand after the events. They often turn to these adultsfor information, comfort, and help.  https://www.cityofpasadena.net/public-health/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/Guidance-Parents-Caregivers-After-Wildfire.pdf

 

For a list of emergency resources and information, visit our library webpage at https://www.altadenalibrary.org/news/emergency-resources