Monday, October 27, 2025

Community Colleges as Crisis Anchors: PCC’s Role in Post-Fire Recovery Gains Spotlight

The Future of Work Conference will explore how education institutions can lead long-term disaster response

As Pasadena City College prepares to host the 7th Annual Future of Work Conference on Tuesday, Oct. 28, the spotlight is turning toward a deeper question: What role should community colleges play in disaster recovery?

The conference, themed “Mobilizing for Recovery and Regional Renewal,” will not only launch a new regional coalition but also examine how institutions like PCC can serve as anchor points in times of crisis. The event runs from 8 a.m. to noon at Westerbeck Recital Hall in Pasadena and is free to attend.

The concept of community colleges as “anchor institutions” — entities with deep local roots and sustained civic influence — is gaining traction nationwide. PCC’s response to the Eaton Fire, which scorched over 14,000 acres and displaced more than 50,000 residents, offers a case study in how educational infrastructure can be rapidly repurposed for community aid.

In the months following the fire, PCC launched a College Corps fellowship program that placed 20 students in paid service roles supporting recovery efforts. The college also played a fiscal and logistical role in the opening of the Eaton Collaboratory in Altadena, a permanent hub for survivor services housed in the former JPL Mission Control Center.

Speakers at the conference will include Salvatrice Cummo, vice president of economic and workforce development at PCC, and Anthony Cordova, vice chancellor of workforce and economic development for the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office. Both are expected to discuss how policy and funding frameworks can better support colleges in emergency response roles.

The conference will also feature Lizzy Okoro Davidson, director of the Pasadena Women’s Business Center, who helped distribute $25,000 grants to 50 women entrepreneurs affected by the fire. Her remarks are expected to underscore the importance of local partnerships in recovery.

Mayor Victor Gordo, a PCC alumnus, will address the city’s experience during and after the fire. In a July statement, Gordo wrote: “Six months ago, the Eaton Fire tore through our foothill communities—scorching the land, damaging homes, and forcing families in Altadena and Pasadena to flee with little more than hope in their hearts.”

The conference agenda includes a fireside conversation on resilience, a panel on disaster recovery lessons, and a closing announcement unveiling the coalition’s structure. Organizers say the coalition will unite public agencies, workforce boards, and community institutions to build more equitable and resilient systems.

Registration is available online: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/7th-annual-future-of-work-conference-tickets-1657641984799