A 'The Joy Reid Show' Special: Losing Altadena

The families who lost everything in the January fires are still struggling to recover.

On June 10, the day after show launch, members of the Joy Reid Show traveled to California, and we had the chance to stop in Altadena. The small suburb, less than fifteen miles from downtown Los Angeles and just north of Pasadena, was among the hardest hit sections of the county when the Eaton Canyon Fire, one of multiple, historically devastating wildfires tore through Southern California on January 7th. The repercussions of the fires have barely changed for many Altadena residents — many of whom lost everything they owned.

Altadena was an historic Black neighborhood where families drawn to Southern California to escape the redlining that prevented them from purchasing homes throughout much of Los Angeles. The neighborhood has changed dramatically in recent decades, as gentrification has shifted the demographics from overwhelmingly Black to multi-ethnic. But the tight knit nature of the community remains. And the families in Altadena are fighting together to rebuild, and to not allow their neighborhood to be overrun by developers and opportunists.

We set out to tell their story. Watch the special episode below:

About the interviewees

With the help of Jotaka Eady of Win With Black Women, we were connected to several amazing interviewees:

Zaire Calvin, affectionately known as “Coach Z,” is a dedicated father, son, high school football coach, therapeutic behavioral recreational therapist, and community leader whose family has a long history in Altadena. As the founder of the non-profit, Xtreme Athletics, Calvin has coached hundreds of student athletes, including Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young and Houston Texans safety Calen Bullock. Since the wildfires, he has emerged as a key community leader and advocate, focused on helping his beloved neighborhood recover and rebuild.

Beverly Allen is the president of a tight knit condominium homeowners association in Pasadena where she has lived for 15 years. Following the devastating Eaton Canyon fire—which destroyed 32 of the community’s 48 homes and severely damaged the remaining 16—Beverly has been working closely with her board and residents to lead the complex rebuilding and remediation efforts.

Jacque Robinson-Baisley is a civic leader who previously served as the Vice Mayor and Council member for the City of Pasadena, and a former Commissioner for the Hollywood-Burbank Airport. Robinson-Baisley moved to Altadena shortly after marrying and is raising her young daughter in the community. Her parents have been Pasadena homeowners for nearly 50 years, and as a renter, her family suffered a total loss in the fire.

Nikki High is the proprietor of the Octavia’s Bookshelf bookstore. Born in Chicago and raised in Pasadena and Altadena, High grew up frequenting public libraries and falling headfirst into the worlds crafted by authors like her favorite, Altadena native Octavia Butler.

Missy and Frank Figueroa are homeowners whom we met by happenstance as we were filming on their block. They very generously shared their story with us, as well as their love for the community they have called home for a decade.

And an extra special thanks to “the twins” — who began sharing their Altadena story with me long before these interviews.

Nicole Stephens and Natalie LaFourche are identical twin sisters, devoted wives, and proud mothers who were born and raised in Altadena. Raised in an artistic family, they have spent more than two decades working in the music industry while also serving as passionate educators in Pasadena. The sisters are second-generation homeowners living just two blocks apart in Altadena, with Natalie living in the home they grew up in. Both of their homes are now uninhabitable, due to the soot and ash the Eaton Fire left behind. Nicole and Natalie are now also co-owners of a local beauty business, and they happen to be my “glam squad” when I’m working in L.A.

How to help

If you’d like to help families in Altadena recover from the effects of the wildfires, here are some helpful links:

Visit the Win With Black Women GoFundMe for Altadena families here.

Support the Wildfire Relief Fund GoFundMe here.

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