Friday, July 25, 2025

High School Students to Lead Wildfire Oral History Effort at Pasadena ‘Listening Session’ on Saturday

Altadena residents impacted by recent wildfires are invited to share their personal stories during a community oral history listening session hosted by the USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership & Policy (CCLP) on Saturday, July 26, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Pasadena Playhouse.

Part of the Wildfire Youth Media Initiative, the event centers on 18 high school journalists—nine from the greater Altadena area and nine from Pacific Palisades—trained by USC faculty to collect oral histories of the fires and their aftermath. The recorded stories will be archived by the Los Angeles Public Library and featured across USC-produced podcasts and short-form content, with potential publication by LAist and KCRW.

“Wildfires have upended lives, destroyed homes, and left lasting emotional and environmental damage,” Geoffrey Baum, senior fellow at USC Annenberg CCLP, said in a statement. “Through this initiative, we aim to honor those experiences and create space for healing and civic memory.”

Attendees will rotate through five question-based story stations organized around themed reflections, designed to elicit detailed personal accounts. Two additional recording zones will serve specific groups: one for high school students directly affected by the wildfires to speak with their peers, and another for professionals—including journalists, community organizers, and business staff—whose work was significantly disrupted, even if they do not reside in fire-impacted neighborhoods.

Participants are encouraged to bring meaningful objects tied to their wildfire experience, such as artifacts found in the aftermath or items that supported their recovery.

The program, led by journalist and faculty member Rebecca Haggerty and coordinated by CCLP Junior Fellow Talia Abrahamson, is intended to serve as a replicable model for other disaster-stricken communities. CCLP is directed by Geoffrey Cowan, former Voice of America director and USC Annenberg dean.

The Pasadena Playhouse is located at 39 S. El Molino Avenue. Free two-hour street parking is available on El Molino Avenue and Green Street. Garage parking is offered at Playhouse Plaza (50 S. El Molino Ave) for a $5 flat fee. Elevator access is available.

More details are available at https://communicationleadership.usc.edu/wildfire-community-listening-sessions/.