By Deborah Bailey
AFRO Contributing Editor
Local residents and grassroot groups in the tight-knit unincorporated community of Altadena, Calif., have combined forces with the NAACP, BET and other national organizations to save the historic Black enclave in the weeks after the devastating January fires that ravaged their neighborhoods.
“Altadena not for sale” signs have begun sprouting up in front of homes reduced to ashes by the Eaton Fire, a symbol of residents’ persistence to keep the community in tact that became a haven for many black residents looking for a place to live and raise their families dating back to an era when redlining kept many Blacks from home ownership even in neighboring towns within California and across the nation.
Now the Altadena Community Preservation Fund has been established with the guidance and support of local community-based groups such as Altadena Heritage, Community Aid Dena, and WalkGood L.A. in collaboration with the NAACP, BET Media Group, Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole (JSSK) entertainment law firm and WME Entertainment group. The Fund’s purpose is to protect Altadenans from displacement and preserve the community’s rich cultural heritage, according to NAACP President Derrick Johnson.
“Entire communities are facing overwhelming loss, and we remain steadfast in our pledge to the rebuilding process. Through this coalition of partners and organizations, we are dedicated to providing the critical resources needed to help families reclaim and rebuild what was lost,” Johnson said in a statement announcing the fund.
Recovery is a long-term process, and the fund will allow residents and small businesses impacted by the fire to access “bridge grants,” or direct cash assistance. Additionally, the NAACP will have a presence on the ground in the Altadena community and continue to host town halls and events to connect residents with public officials from L.A. County who have also pledged partnership to protect local residents from predatory real estate developers and others who would offer low-ball cash offers to buy out the community.
“At BET we are committed to coming to the aid of our communities when they need us most,” said BET President and CEO of BET Media Group Scott Mills. “The Altadena Community Preservation Fund is about more than just recovery—it’s about empowering families, preserving history, and ensuring that this vibrant community continues to thrive for generations to come.”
Many of the homeowners and small businesses impacted by the Eaton Fire were multi-generational Black homeowners who began moving to the community in the 1960s, like Deborah Williams Hedges.
“Our house burned completely to the ground. Our three, long-time neighbors’ houses also burned to the ground. Our family has lived in Altadena for about 30 years. We raised our children there, and we loved our home,” Hedges said in an exclusive interview with the AFRO shortly after the fires.
The fund will focus on homeowners living directly within historically Black neighborhoods of Altadena defined by census tracks and particularly:
- Uninsured or underinsured homeowners, including homeowners on California’s FAIR plan (California’s basic insurance offered for affordable insurance choices for Californians who could not afford private insurance.)
- Limited wealth homeowners determined by L.A. County means testing.
- Multi-generational homes with higher financial stress due to shared housing and caregiving responsibilities.
- Senior homeowners (65 and older) who are no longer in the workforce
The organization FORWARD will administer the Altadena Community Fund. FORWARD is a national platform focused on reducing barriers and ensuring aid reaches those who need it most. Aja Brown, senior vice president of impact at FORWARD is from Altadena and welcomes this opportunity to serve her neighbors.
“Restoration begins with stabilizing and supporting our most vulnerable community members and that’s what this effort is designed to do,” Brown said.
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