Building a Way Home in Altadena

Brenda Sanchez grew up watching her grandfather build. He was a rough carpenter who worked across Southern California in the 1960s and ‘70s, often in communities where, as she put it, people like them weren’t welcomed. He went on to buy property and build for himself. The example he set still shapes the work Brenda does through her company, B.A.S Construction.

After the 2025 Los Angeles Wildfires, Brenda saw families struggling to figure out what to do after losing their homes. She had spent much of her career in commercial construction and knew she could use her experience to help people rebuild. She joined The Center’s Contractors Accelerator for Climate Resilience Disaster Recovery Cohort to learn more about wildfire rebuilding and recovery that goes beyond construction.

Over six weeks, Brenda learned alongside 25 other local contractors preparing to take on residential rebuilds and fire-damaged projects in Altadena and Pacific Palisades. The cohort covered the technical and business sides of rebuilding, along with how to work with homeowners still dealing with the loss and uncertainty left by the fires.

The Accelerator also helped her build relationships with other contractors involved in recovery efforts. One of those people was Charles T. Bryant of Masbuild, who invited her to bid on a home rebuild for an Altadena family. She studied the plans meticulously, talked through questions with the architect, and made sure her proposal reflected the full work of rebuilding the home. That care came through in her proposal. The family chose B.A.S Construction, and in early September, Brenda stood alongside them when they broke ground on the project.

As Brenda got to know the family, she came to understand how much returning to Altadena meant to them. Their history and years of memories are rooted in the community. Rebuilding would give them a sense of stability after the fire and a place where they could continue making memories together.

“Watching the family break ground surrounded by their close relatives has really stayed with me,” Brenda said. “After everything they had been through, there was a sense of relief, gratitude, and hope. It was a tangible step toward coming home, and the moment when the rebuild started to feel real.”

This project has given Brenda a chance to show what B.A.S Construction can do. Contractors compete hard for opportunities like this, and she hopes this will open the door to more work helping families rebuild in Altadena and Pacific Palisades.

The Accelerator that helped Brenda prepare for this work is now open to contractors nationwide. The latest evolution of the Contractors Accelerator for Climate Resilience is self-paced, fully online, and available at no cost to eligible contractors looking to grow through climate resilience, clean energy, or public contracting opportunities.

Learn more and register by November 10 at www.thecenterbylendistry.org/cacr.