Friday, July 11, 2025

Stories Rise From the Ashes at Mariposa Night

Altadena voices find healing and unity through storytelling at Caltech

“The big challenge in recovery is keeping people here,” said Lucy Jones. “There is a risk of losing the community when its physical space is damaged. We can’t lose too many people and still be what we were.” That sobering reflection will resonate through Beckman Auditorium on July 12 during Mariposa Night, a free public storytelling event designed to support community healing following the destructive Eaton Fire in January.

Organized by Leadership Pasadena and sponsored by Caltech, Fire Aid, and VFW Lt. Kenneth Bell Post 3208, Mariposa Night offers more than a stage. It offers solidarity. The evening will feature personal stories from residents and workers affected by the fire—stories not centered on loss, but on perseverance, family and hope.

The fire deeply impacted Altadena’s historic Black community. According to research from the UCLA Center for Neighborhood Knowledge, 61% of Black households were located within the fire perimeter, and nearly half suffered major damage or total destruction. In contrast, 37% of non-Black households experienced such devastation. For many, the fire erased generational wealth and treasured family heirlooms.

Yet Mariposa Night is not a fundraiser. As organizers explain, it is “a moment to reconnect and stand together.” The event embraces storytelling as a tool for processing trauma, resisting displacement and reaffirming cultural identity—particularly as luxury developers move in, buying up fire-damaged lots for cash. At least seven of the 14 properties sold so far have been purchased by investors, some from outside the United States.

Before the 7 p.m. main program, attendees are invited to the Beckman Lawn for a community gathering featuring Altadena-based food trucks, local musicians and booths hosted by wellness-oriented nonprofits. These informal spaces underscore the event’s purpose: creating a cultural and emotional commons.

A key sponsor, Fire Aid, raised $100 million for wildfire relief through a Jan. 30 benefit concert at Intuit Dome. The nonprofit has since distributed $50 million in immediate aid to more than 120 community-based organizations, reaching over 150,000 Angelenos, including many in Altadena.

Jones, founder of the Lucy Jones Center for Science and Society, added, “We need to hold concerts and events, not just for the next three months but for the next three years, so that this remains a place that you want to be in.”

Beckman Auditorium, 332 S. Michigan Ave., in Pasadena. For more call (626) 395-4652 or visit: https://ctlo.caltech.edu/outreach/caltechresources/outreach-programs/mariposa-night

Mariposa Night, on Saturday, July 12, at 7 p.m. at Beckman Auditorium, 332 S. Michigan Ave., Pasadena. Tickets: Free