Mariposa St. and Lake Ave. (Photo – Melissa Michelson)
In response to the devastating wildfires that have swept through neighborhoods across Los Angeles County, the USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership & Policy (CCLP) has launched the Wildfire Youth Media Initiative, a groundbreaking project that empowers high school journalists to tell powerful, first-person stories of loss, survival, and resilience.
By News Desk
As part of the initiative, CCLP will host a Wildfire Community Listening Session on Saturday, July 26, from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm at the Pasadena Playhouse, located at 39 S El Molino Ave, Pasadena, CA 91101. Community members are invited to share their experiences with wildfires, which will be recorded by student journalists from Pacific Palisades and greater Altadena.
These personal stories will be preserved in the Los Angeles Public Library archives and featured in USC-produced podcasts and digital media, creating a lasting public record of the emotional and environmental toll of the fires.
“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.”
The project reflects CCLP’s continued focus on civic engagement, media innovation, and youth leadership—placing young reporters at the forefront of capturing California’s wildfire legacy through the lens of their own communities.
More information and RSVP details can be found at: communicationleadership.usc.edu/wildfire-community-listening-sessions.
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