Friday, October 24, 2025

TEDxAltadena Event to Spotlight Post-Fire Resilience, Organizers Say

Local speakers and performers expected at Oct. 26 Altadena Library gathering, per event organizers

A TEDx event scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 26, at the Altadena Main Library is planned that will feature speakers and performers focused on themes of resilience and recovery following the Eaton Fire, according to organizers Dr. Brent Musson and Dawn Musson (McClendon).

The event, formally titled “TEDxAltadena: Reclaim. Rebuild. Reimagine. — October 26 | Altadena Main Library,” is set to run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will include a free but ticketed overflow livestream experience and refreshments at Bob Lucas Library, organizers stated in a press release. Main-event tickets are sold out, according to the release.

Musson, a real-estate developer and TEDx licensee, and McClendon, a public servant, both described the event as a community response to the challenges Altadena residents faced after the fire. Both organizers are native to Altadena and Pasadena, according to the press release.

“After the fire, there was only so much we could do physically and financially,” McClendon said. “We donated to as many GoFundMe’s as we could afford and even used Instacart to deliver water and blankets. Eventually, we had to ask — how can we create meaningful, lasting impact? That’s how TEDxAltadena was born.”

“This community has always been defined by creativity and grit,” Musson said. “Through these talks, we’re not just sharing stories; we’re building a roadmap for how communities everywhere can reclaim what was lost, rebuild stronger, and reimagine what’s possible.”

According to the press release, organizers received more than 170 speaker submissions, representing disciplines such as design, ecology, storytelling and social impact. The final speaker lineup has not been publicly released.

The event is presented in partnership with the Altadena Library District and supported by local organizations, volunteers and businesses, organizers said. TEDxAltadena is independently licensed by TED and intended to highlight Altadena’s creativity and resilience.

Organizers said the event invites the community to reimagine Altadena’s future together. For more information, they directed residents to visit www.TEDxAltadena.com, email TEDxAltadena2025@gmail.com, or follow @TEDxAltadena on social media.