Tuesday, October 7, 2025

Eaton Fire Collaborative Opens ‘Collaboratory,’ a Home Base for Recovery

The Eaton Fire Collaborative will open the doors of its first permanent physical hub for survivors this afternoon, inviting residents of Altadena, Pasadena and Sierra Madre to tour a new space designed to concentrate recovery resources in one place.

The public open house runs from 4 to 7 p.m. at 540 West Woodbury Road in Altadena. Visitors can expect facility tours of the space, demonstrations of available services, brief information sessions and opportunities to meet the partner groups working on the region’s fire recovery.

The event is open to survivors, their families and any community members who want to learn how to connect with assistance.

Leaders of the collaborative describe the “Collaboratory” as both a milestone and a practical tool: a physical address where people can find vetted aid, ask questions and organize next steps.

“The Collaboratory represents an important and visible milestone in the collaborative’s mission to unify precious resources, assistance, and information so that survivors can take control of their recovery,” said Antonio Manning, Chair of the Eaton Fire Collaborative. The space will host community events and provide direct access to vetted recovery services tailored to the unique needs of the Altadena, Pasadena, and Sierra Madre communities.

Formed in the wake of the Eaton Canyon Fire, the collaborative has cast itself as a survivor-led network that adapts national, evidence-based recovery practices to local needs. The new site is meant to make that philosophy tangible. Its functions are straightforward: a resource hub for direct services and information; a community gathering place for regular events; a coordination center for partner groups; and an “empowerment” venue for programs that help residents navigate housing, rebuilding and day-to-day challenges.

“We are survivors helping survivors,” said Bree Jensen, Eaton Fire Collaborative Vice Chair. “This collaboratory is more than just a physical space – it’s a home for survivorship and a testament to our communities’ ability to not only survive but thrive. Here, survivors lead, while walking alongside others on their path of recovery.”

Organizers say the Collaborative now brings together 200+ community groups, nonprofits, and civic agencies — more than any prior disaster-recovery effort in the region — and has formalized a leadership structure that requires partners to provide services or expertise to shape priorities. That framework, they argue, is designed to improve accountability while amplifying local voices as rebuilding moves from urgent needs to longer-term work.

The open house follows a simple program: a mix-and-mingle hour from 4 to 5 p.m.; a community update from 5 to 5:30; and time from 5:30 to 7 to meet partner organizations and explore the space.

Christy Zamani, who chairs the collaborative’s Long-Term Recovery Group, framed the opening as both symbolic and practical.

“We’re not just rebuilding; we’re strengthening the bonds that make our communities unique,” said Christy Zamani, Chair of The EFC Long-Term Recovery Group. “We believe our work will demonstrate that when communities unite, they can overcome any challenge and become a model for other community recovery efforts.”

Event details: Today, 4 to 7 p.m., the Collaboratory, 540 West Woodbury Road, Altadena. The gathering is open to the public.