Thoughts on how to accompany LA through this time

Many have reached out to me over the last number of days to ask how to accompany folks and communities impacted by the ongoing fires [yes they are still burning] in Los Angeles 

I am not an expert and have only been out here for 5 months but in my time so far, as a activist, organizer and connector, that has honed that work over many years in New York, particularly through mobilizing and organizing work around Superstorm Sandy and during COVID, working to center marginalized populations, what I have learned and brought out here is...

We don't need clothing and supplies [generally] 

Community centers and distribution facilities have been inundated and overrun with clothing, water, toiletries and other supplies. This of course is beautiful knowing so many have worked to collect and provide. But the inundation leads to more work in having to constantly redistribute these resources that is largely through the labors of volunteers.  

The needs are nuanced

Mutual Aid groups have been doing an incredible job of localizing care for the particularly affected communities [Palisades and Altadena] and those communities needs and the particular needs of the people are complex

If you would like to find out more about how to connect with a Mutual Aid group in one of those communities, please reach out and I can get you list

Funding is Vital

Many of the organizations leading the charge on this run on shoestring budgets and so I would encourage you to consider finding an organization on the ground meeting needs, caring for folks in LA and support them. Even $25/month goes a long way

My organization Trellis has been partnering with Salvation Army Santa Monica and Renew Church LA to go into the emergency shelters to hear about the specific needs [things like laptops so folks can keep working while in the shelter, therapy, childcare, school supplies, gas for vehicles to be able to leave the city, among other things

Funding allows this organizing and purchasing to happen.

Organizations need to be able to pay staff to lead, organize, facilitate, move things, be with people, connect folks to resources

Just my two cents. Really grateful one for so many seeking to care for Los Angeles through this and for the ways that LA has shown up and shown out in the midst of this