Supporting fatherless daughters impacted by the Eaton Canyon Fire

Community safety

County of Los Angeles (select only if your project has a countywide benefit) Other

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

The devastation of the Eaton Canyon and Pacific Palisades fires impacted thousands of residents of Los Angeles County.  The founder of A Sisterhood for Fatherless Daughters, Tiaira Jones-Hill, knows first hand from her own experience of losing the place she called home in Altadena during the fires.  While efforts will be ongoing to rebuild physical structures, there is also a need to rebuild the emotional wellbeing of these impacted communities. The wildfires have deeply affected women and girls, many of whom already face instability due to the absence of a father figure. Displacement, financial hardship, and emotional distress have only been intensified by this natural disaster.  Many of the individuals served by SFD rely on a strong and safe support system, and when wildfires destroy homes, disrupt jobs, and force evacuations, it further isolates them and makes access to essential resources even more difficult.

The Bonding Time program is designed to support and uplift the community of fatherless daughters. As a result of the fires, the Bonding Time program, while still serve the residents of Los Angeles County; however there will be an emphasis on those fatherless daughters impacted by the Eaton Canyon fires, and will also expand to serve mothers raising fatherless daughters.  By sharing their experiences, SFD is helping to create a stronger, more responsive support system for girls, teens and women who have been affected by this tragedy. 
Each month, SFD organizes various events and gatherings that provide a safe and nurturing environment for participants to connect, share their stories, and build lasting relationships. These events include providing healthy food/snacks, participation in a wellness activity (i.e. mediation, journaling, dance) and a creative arts & craft project.  A healing circle will be incorporated into the program, which will be led by Cookie’s Refuge, a non profit organization, whose focus is on providing culturally competent mental wellness and development services to urban communities. These healing circles will allow for sharing experiences, learning from others and providing resources that can be used once they leave the event. Moving beyond the once a month in person gatherings, Bonding Time will begin to include virtual meetings, which will allow more girls, teens and women to be part of this supportive community. 

There needs to be intentional, committed and focused efforts on rebuilding the people that have been impacted by the Palisades and Eaton Canyon fires.  SFD will do its part in helping to rebuild community through the Bonding Time program. By adding virtual events to Bonding Time, SFD will be meeting participants' needs beyond a monthly in person event. Focusing not just on girls, teens and women who have been fatherless, but by also serving the mothers who are raising daughters who are fatherless, SFD will be a place for consistent and ongoing support, learning, healing and a community that shares resources.