A Regional Remembrance and Recovery Event
Department of Angels and Extreme Weather Survivors invite you to With Us: Walk with fire survivors through sight, sound, and story, a regional gathering that marks one year since the LA fires and brings our community together to honor, heal, and move forward in collective action.
As the one-year anniversary of the LA fires approaches, the Department of Angels and Extreme Weather Survivors (EWS) is bringing together Angelenos of all ages for a moment of remembrance, healing, and collective action. The With Us event aims to connect communities, honor the progress and healing already underway, and highlight the urgent changes survivors still need for Los Angeles to fully recover. Recovery takes all of us, and we appreciate your support in spreading the word for this important community event!
This gathering features an interactive storytelling installation that reflects the winding road survivors have traveled. Attendees will be immersed in a one-of-a-kind labyrinth of audio and visual art storytelling that explores how recovery is not a straight path and why ongoing support continues to matter. With more than 70 percent of displaced survivors still not back in their homes, we know that rebuilding can’t happen alone—we all need to be involved.
In the days following the fires, the entire region mobilized to help. Now, we are inviting Angelenos to reconnect with that spirit of collective care. Recovery goes beyond any single neighborhood or family. It spans across communities and sectors, and it only succeeds when everyone participates. Survivors, neighbors, government partners, and community groups all play a role, long after the media attention has faded.
The road ahead is challenging, but together, Angelenos can make sure every survivor receives the support needed to recover. We appreciate your support in amplifying this toolkit.
Event Details
What: With Us: Walk with fire survivors through sight, sound, and story
When: January 4, 2026 12-4 p.m. PT | Installation will remain up Jan 5-7, 12-8 p.m. PT
Where: City Market Social House, 1145 S. San Pedro St., Los Angeles, CA 90015
RSVP: https://with-us-fire-recovery.eventbrite.com/
Immersive Storytelling Experience
Guests will move through a large-scale storytelling labyrinth created in collaboration with survivors. The installation blends personal testimony, soundscapes, visual art, and research to show the emotional, financial, and physical challenges families face long after the fires are out. Survivor reflections and calls to action throughout the space will help visitors understand what long-term recovery requires and why continued support matters.
What to Expect
- An immersive storytelling installation tracing the winding road of recovery through visual art, sound, and lived experience.
- A speaking and performance program featuring survivors, local leaders, and artists sharing stories of resilience and remembrance.
- A resource hub for community members and survivors, offering tools to help all Angelenos support recovery.
- KCRW’s “Love Letters to LA” initiative, inviting attendees to write messages to their neighborhoods and to the city to honor the places they love, and support communities still recovering.
- Project:Camp hosting a dedicated kids space on January 4 from 12-4pm with camp-style programming for up to 30 children at a time on a first-come, first-served basis.
Featured Artists
- Akiko Stehrenberger
- Ariane Vielmetter
- Asher Bingham
- Beatriz Cortez
- Ben Tuna
- Cara Levine
- DaeQuan Alexander Collier
- Delbar Shahbaz
- Drew Beckmeyer
- Gary Palmer
- Heidi Day Wenzel
- Henry Kaye
- Jeffrey Sugishita
- Jennifer Rochlin
- Keni Arts
- Kevin Cooley
- Kim McCarty
- Matt Shallenberger
- Meagan Boyd
- Robert Vargas
- Roxane Berger
- Sam Pace
- Sunny Mills
- SUPERWAXX
Programming Highlights
The day will feature KCRW’s “Love Letters to LA” initiative, a storytelling project that gathers personal letters, reflections, and messages from Angelenos about the places and people they hold dear. For this event, Love Letters to LA will help surface stories of resilience and connection, giving attendees a heartfelt way to engage with the emotional landscape of recovery.
Project:Camp will also be onsite offering community-rooted programming and creative activities designed to support families navigating the challenges of long-term recovery. Their work helps make the event welcoming and grounding for people of all ages. Please note: parents who want to step away for a moment can do so! Project: Camp is hosted by licensed trauma-informed caregivers.
Onsite Community Resources
Local organizations will provide supportive, family-friendly services. These resources offer survivors direct assistance while giving non-impacted Angelenos tangible ways to contribute.
