My family member’s beloved home in Altadena, lost to the Eaton Canyon fire.
By Tunua Thrash-Ntuk, President & CEO, The Center by Lendistry

The wildfires ravaging Los Angeles County are a devastating reminder of the growing threat of climate change. Driven by an unprecedented Santa Ana wind event, the fires have already consumed more than 38,000 acres, destroyed entire neighborhoods, and caused significant loss of life. For me, this disaster is deeply personal. My relatives lost their home in Altadena that had been in our family for decades—a place where I spent countless childhood days creating cherished memories. Now, like so many others, they have no home to return to.

Altadena has long been a haven for Black and Brown families seeking homeownership in Southern California. Homes in this community have been lovingly passed down from one generation to the next. But today, much of Altadena has been reduced to ash, displacing families, businesses, and workers. The path to recovery for communities like Altadena is steep. Unlike wealthier areas such as Pacific Palisades and Malibu, where homeowners are more likely to have access to insurance payouts and private resources, many families in Altadena lack wealth and robust insurance policies needed to rebuild.

Small businesses are equally vulnerable. Across Los Angeles, decades-old businesses —diners, mom-and-pop shops, and other anchors of community life— have been destroyed in mere hours. These businesses are the heart of their neighborhoods, and without targeted support, their recovery will be long and uncertain.

While no climate resilience strategy can fully shield us from extreme events like wildfires, resilience plays a critical role in helping communities adapt to other climate challenges. Rising temperatures, extreme weather, and the transition to a carbon neutral economy are reshaping the way we live, work, and build community. The ability to navigate these shifts will determine whether communities like Altadena can recover and thrive in the long term.

The Center by Lendistry’s work in climate resilience is about preparing communities and small businesses to navigate the broader impacts of climate change. Last year, we partnered with the City of Pasadena to conduct a Small Business Green Survey Crawl to better understand the challenges faced by small businesses in building climate resilience. What we heard from local business owners, like Perry Bennett, owner of Perry’s Joint in Pasadena, is that they often struggle to access information about grants, programs, and funding opportunities.

“In my community, we struggle to access information about available programs. Historically, by the time we hear about these opportunities, the funds are usually all gone, or the programs have ended,” Bennett shared.

To address these gaps, The Center is developing strategies like the Main Street Climate Resiliency Toolbox and the Main Street Goes Green Accelerator. The toolbox equips small businesses with practical tools and strategies to adopt sustainable practices and prepare for future disasters. Meanwhile, the accelerator connects business owners with funding and training to implement energy-efficient upgrades. These initiatives aim to ensure that all small businesses, regardless of their location or resources, have the support they need to thrive in a carbon-neutral economy.

The fires raging across Los Angeles are a wake-up call. Climate change is no longer a distant threat—it is here. As policymakers, local leaders, and organizations come together to address the immediate crisis, we must also plan for a future where these events are more frequent.

At The Center, we are committed to leading the charge for inclusive, climate-resilient communities. Visit https://thecenterbylendistry.org/our-work/climate-resilience/ to learn more about our work.

January 14, 2025

Translate »