Dena Rise Up
The 2025 Eaton Fire dealt a devastating blow to the Altadena and Pasadena communities, decimating critical community infrastructure and damaging and destroying homes. Affected renters and homeowners were diverse, many of them low and low-moderate income families who had lived in both cities since at least the 1990’s. For these families, the lost homes were often one of the primary assets. For renters, housing availability is now even more limited and expensive at a time when most or all has been lost. The fire was traumatic with the loss of life, and the destruction of a community – the economic devastation will last for decades.
Immediately following the fires, we partnered with community organizing groups to strengthen Altadena’s capacity to shape an equitable rebuilding process. In this unincorporated area, where no mayor or city council represents residents and monied interests are advancing their own agendas, residents need support to protect their interests and rebuild their community. In June 2025 local groups led a march and rally as the community’s first public action held and attended by Eaton fire survivors, regional organizations, advocates, and other equitable recovery supporters, including Catalyst California. That proved a transformative moment, as several local organizations decided to work together. They formed the organizing and advocacy coalition, Dena Rise Up. We joined as co-convenor to support and advance their agenda.
At the request of local leaders, Catalyst California will help build an organized, multiracial, multiclass bloc of residents that advocate for an equitable rebuilding effort in Altadena and Pasadena. We will bring our research, data, mapping expertise and policy change experience to the coalition’s efforts.
For more information reach out to info@catalystcalifornia.org