Altadena residents and business owners will gain vital information and have access to critical resources to restore their property at the L.A. Sentinel Wildfire Recovery and Rebuild Conference.
The comprehensive symposium takes place on Saturday, March 29, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Hilton Pasadena, 168 South Robles Ave., in Pasadena. The free event, which includes continental breakfast, lunch, and childcare service, will offer insight and guidance from a wide range of experts.
“This conference is designed to help empower and educate folks on what and how to get too and through recovery and rebuilding,” said Bakewell Media President and Sentinel Executive Editor Danny J. Bakewell, Jr.
“We have enlisted knowledgeable subject matter experts to help those affected by the fires navigate the twist and turns that will come about while trying to rebuild the homes and businesses lost in the Eaton and Palisades fires.”
California Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, County Supervisor Kathryn Barger and County Assessor Jeffrey Prang will headline the opening panel. Other participants include Secretary of Business, Consumer Service and Housing Agency Tomiquia Moss and Airbnb.org Executive Director Christoph Gorder.
District Attorney Nathan Hochman will lead a presentation on scams as well as conduct a Q&A session. Also, CSU Dominguez Hills President Thomas A. Parham will moderate a panel discussion among top banking officials.
The banking panelists will feature Raul Anaya, president-Greater Los Angeles and co-head of Business Banking for Bank of America; Eric Smith, executive chairman of BMO; Gentry Ficke, regional director for Chase in Los Angeles; and Alice Juarez, Wells Fargo Regional Branch network executive.
In addition, breakout sessions will highlight issues critical to recovery and rebuilding property. The topics will cover reasons to opt in to both Phase 1 and Phase 2 residential debris removal, insurance coverage options and the process for maximizing homeowner claims, legal considerations, property taxes and assessments, and banking opportunities concerning mortgages, construction loans, and other financing resources.
Information will also be available on hiring an architect and general contractor and building an ADU on your property. Maintaining good mental health will be addressed at sessions facilitated by Wellnest and USC Mindfulness.
Workshop speakers will include representatives from the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA), Langston Bar Association, L.A. County Department of Public Works, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
“Thanks to our sponsors and partners, the professionals at this conference can answer your most pressing questions as well as address your concerns about the displacement, recovery and building process,” added Bakewell.
Conference sponsors include Airbnb, Bank of America, BMO Bank, Brotherhood Crusade, Chase Bank, Comerica Bank, Community Build, Wells Fargo Bank, Law Firm: Ivie, McNeill, Wyatt, Purcell & Diggs, Los Angeles Urban League, South Coast Air Quality Management District, SEIU 721, Southern California Edison, and First 5 California. Partners include CBS2/KCAL9, 94.7 The WAVE, Mothers in Action, 102.3 KJLH, Pasadena NAACP, Kappa Alpha Psi – Pasadena Alumni Chapter, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, National Organization of Minority Architects – Southern California Chapter, John M. Langston Bar Association of Los Angeles, USC Mindfulness, Wellnest, Black Education Expo, and Compass. f
