Altadena Strong!

Fam, last night I got to support two of Altadena-Pasadena’s finest: Mother-daughter duo, Stephanie Cunningham-Strange and Danielle L. Ross.

Both survivors of the Altadena-Eaton Fire, Danielle – an amazing independent producer and new author – launched her survival guide workbook, “In Case of Emergency: Shelter In Place.” And Stephanie screened her powerful documentary, “No Water No Rescue.”

To say the night impacted me is an understatement.

I’ve called South Pasadena home for 12 years now.  I experienced the  aftermath and evacuation alert of the Altadena-Eaton fire. And I  know people who lost everything, because of it.

Still, even being in close proximity to the catastrophe, I didn’t have a true idea of the devastation the fire caused.

Until last night.

Stephanie’s deeply personal documentary utilized boots-on-the-ground footage to pull back the curtain on what actual happened in real time. And lifelong Altadena citizens poured out their hearts and expressed justifiable anger about losing their homes, their loved ones and their community.

Fam, I gotta admit…Watching the doc last night made me angry, too. 

Not because Stephanie somehow had the strength in those crucial hours and days to pick up her camera and start documenting. 

I was angry, because I lived right next door to Altadena and had never seen any of that footage in news coverage.

Then, person after person stood up and said the same thing.

And when Stephanie asked folks who had lost their homes to raise their hands? I couldn’t believe the number. 

THIS is the true story of what happened and is continuing to happen as the historic Black populations fights to rebuild Altadena after the Eaton Fire. 

“No Water No Rescue” is California’s Hurricane Katrina story. It should be required viewing and I’m happy to share that it will featured next February in the Pan African Film Festival. 

Be sure to check it out, Fam. And while you’re at it, get a copy of Danielle’s survival guide, “In Case of Emergency: Shelter In Place,” too. 

Mother Nature has made it clear she’s done with us, so most likely another natural catastrophe is right around the corner (or happening right now.)

Danielle’s book will help you survive it.