Lift Every Voice- Youth Speak Out on Impact of Wildfires private event allowed youth to speak to the mayor and each other.
“Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you and hear from you and learn about your concerns,” said Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass at Lift Every Voice- Youth Speak Out on Impact of Wildfires, a private event held at the LA 84 Foundation recently.
Youth affected by the Pacific Palisades, South Los Angeles, Sylmar, Altadena, and Pasadena wildfires engaged in round table exchanges about their experiences. Each table selected a representative to summarize their experiences and ideas and present questions to Mayor Bass. One of the topics of conversation presented to the mayor was about air quality and rebuilding the communities.
“It’s a tough question in terms of restoring the air quality,” said Bass. “The county health department is monitoring and the AQMD, the Air Quality Management Department.
“The air quality is going to be bad for a while especially in this period with the hazardous materials being moved. In that movement, that’s going to affect the air quality and it’s going to take a while for that to clear.
“And then, of course, we just went through the rains, and so, what that did is that took all the hazardous material and packed it down into the water. It’s going to be a while before the air gets better.
“We are asking if people go up into the fire zone that they wear an air filter and the Red Cross are making those available.
“Building in this city and frankly, in any other city, takes a really long time. I see it as my job to do whatever I can to make it as easy and fast as possible.”
Amari Johnson, a student at Palisades Charter High School, shared what she thought about the event and speaking with the mayor.
“I felt like it was very useful,” said Johnson. “I felt like it was really nice to share our concerns and to share how we felt and get actual feedback in person versus just an email.
“It’s nice being able to be face-to-face, seeing peers I know, all showing concern, it’s really nice to know that we all care about what’s happening.”
Mason Maddox, a student St. Francis High School, was displaced by the Eaton wildfires, with his family ending up in an Airbnb in Los Angeles. He shared his opinion on the talk with Mayor Bass.
“I think this is a good opportunity for people who were affected to get together and share with someone in power and especially just making them aware of, not only the needs of the community, but their needs as well,” said Maddox.
Altadena resident, Zaire Calvin and his family were displaced by the Eaton wildfire, losing two homes and his sister. He’s a coach at Oak’s Christian and formerly coached at John Muir High School. He shared his feelings about the event.
“It was a good event,” said Calvin, “having the kids to be able to express themselves about mental health, I think is the most important part and having her [Mayor Bass] to come out and speak to the youth and have them ask questions and answer questions, keep it kind of private for them, I think is a good thing.”
“When I think about the young people that are here—just a few years ago, they went through COVID, when they were in middle school and here, they are again, out of school because of another tragedy,” said Bass
“It was incredible to be here with a group of young people, listening to them, how this tragedy impacted them and it was an opportunity for me to learn and to say to them, we have to do whatever we can to maintain a sense of community.”
These roundtable discussions with youth were presented to Mayor Bass in January with a range of adults recovering in the aftermath of the fires that focused on housing, employment, relocation, insurance etc. The co-sponsors thought the youth deserved special attention and a place to be heard. This event was not a conference with speeches, keynotes and adult experts. The event focused on hearing from youth after the devastation of the wildfires. This event focused on youth, ages 12 -24.
The historical landmark of the LA 84 Foundation is home to the eternal flame, sports library and a venue where many important gatherings have brought people together. President and CEO Renata Simril and her team provided support and resources to assure a remarkable experience for participants.
“For us, it was really helpful just to hear from students themselves, the LA84 Foundation is all about youth voice and what we can do as a foundation to help young people recover,” said Simril. “I think it lifted their spirits, they got to take away a gift bag that had a gift certificate in it just to bring them a little bit of joy amongst so much trauma ad despair.”
“I thought it was very helpful for me personally to see young people have the opportunity to talk to their peers and realize that they share similar concerns that break through that isolation,” said Fran Jemmott, LA84 Foundation organizer and sponsor.
“These are going to be voters in 2 and 4 years, they’re going to be called on to make choices, decisions and they need to have the confidence to have a voice and to speak up—speak truth to power.”
The LA84 Foundation is grateful for the support of Alicia Procello Maddox, president of the Avery Dennison Foundation, co-sponsor and parent of Maddox, the emcee for the event, Yolande Beckles, executive director and co-founder of The Knowledge Shop LA, Jim Kirtley, executive director of YMCA, Pacific Palisades, who organized youth and served liaison to Palisades Charter High School, and Jemmott, principal/CEO of Jemmott Rollins Group – management consultant to philanthropy, community advocate and recruiting participants.
“It’s like a grieving process,” said Bass, “to lose your home, school, facilities, it is a loss.”
Bass continued, “It’s not just the loss of property but it’s a loss of history, relationships, community, a sense of belonging and as a city going through grieving, and I’m sure, you’re all aware of the different stages of grief—denial, anger, all that happens with that and we’re going through it together.
“I just wanted you to know that I am very, very sorry for what you’ve gone through. As the Mayor of the city, to grieve with everybody and to have gone through it personally as well because it impacted my family also.
“How do we move on? How do we go through this process together and build our lives and most importantly, get back to school, your homes, neighborhoods and your communities?
“My focus is making that happen.”
