(Editor’s note: CTN received the following letter from Geoffrey L. Baum, Senior Policy Fellow at USC Annenberg School.)
I am reaching out to ask for your help in sharing an important opportunity with members of our community who have been affected by wildfires in the Palisades, Malibu, Pasadena, and Altadena.
Together with my colleagues at the USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership & Policy, we’ve launched the Wildfire Youth Media Initiative—a project that trains high school journalists to document the stories of those impacted by the fires.
We are inviting residents, first responders, nonprofit workers, and others to participate in two upcoming Wildfire Community Listening Sessions, where they can share their personal experiences for preservation in the Los Angeles Public Library archive and USC media platforms:
- Saturday, July 19 | 9 a.m.–1 p.m. KCRW Headquarters, Santa Monica – For those impacted by the Palisades Fire
- Saturday, July 26 | 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Pasadena Playhouse – For those impacted by the Eaton Fire
To RSVP or share with others click here.
Our most urgent ask is this: please help us spread the word to those who might want to participate. Whether you know someone personally or can help amplify through your platform, your support will make a difference.
Participants will be interviewed by student journalists from Pacific Palisades and greater Altadena areas. Their recorded stories will be preserved in the Los Angeles Public Library archives and featured in USC podcasts and online media, ensuring that the personal impact of these fires becomes part of the public record.
“Wildfires have upended lives, destroyed homes, and left lasting emotional and environmental damage,” said Geoffrey Baum, Senior Fellow at USC Annenberg CCLP. “Through this initiative, we aim to honor those experiences and create space for healing and civic memory.”