Our story is a
community's story.
Altadena CDC is a community-rooted organization dedicated to protecting, preserving, and strengthening Altadena through equitable recovery, community-driven development, and long-term resilience. Founded and led by Altadena natives with deep roots in the community, the organization brings lived experience, trusted relationships, and an unwavering commitment to helping residents rebuild, remain rooted, and thrive.
In the aftermath of the Eaton Fire, Altadena CDC and its partners launched Dena Care, providing direct financial assistance to homeowners to help them navigate the earliest stages of recovery.
Today, our work has grown into a comprehensive recovery effort focused on helping residents return home and remain rooted in Altadena. Through recovery navigation, rebuilding support, strategic partnerships, homeowner preservation, and anti-displacement initiatives, we strengthen the organizations, partnerships, and systems working together to ensure an equitable and resilient recovery.
To help Altadena residents recover, rebuild, return home, and remain rooted through useful information, rebuilding support, partnerships, and anti displacement work.
A future where recovery strengthens the people who built the community rather than replacing them.
Communities deserve equitable and accessible recovery.
We work to help residents recover, return, and remain rooted while protecting choice, ownership, and community continuity.
Meet the people helping build pathways toward a stronger future for Altadena.
VAN BROWN
Managing Director
PROPHET WALKER
Advisor
MELISSA FREENY-YOUNG
Advisor
KATHERINE PEOPLES
Partner - HPP Cares
A dedicated group of leaders, advisors, and community stewards committed to helping ensure that recovery benefits the people who built Altadena.
Aja Brown
Founder, Board Chair
Anthony McFarland
Secretary
Greg Pitts
Treasurer
Sheila Foster
Board Member
Ethan Smith
Board Member
Recovery requires collaboration.
We work alongside residents, community organizations, public agencies, and private-sector partners to build a more coordinated and community-centered recovery ecosystem.
