Spring Presidential Column
Cris Ann Scaglione, Ph.D.
As of this writing in January, the Eaton Fire is 56% contained, and the Palisades fire is about 80% contained. In a year that has begun with unprecedented destruction in LA county, it seems difficult to reconcile such catastrophic loss with our 2025 theme of celebration. The physical and mental toll on first responders, the thousands of people displaced from their homes, the thousands whose lives and livelihoods have been disrupted, and the tens of thousands of us who are stunned and heartbroken by what we helplessly witnessed, is immeasurable.
Humanity, however, has always experienced the comingling of joy and suffering. Celebration often includes the remembrance of loss, and signifies resilience and complexity. Key to celebration is its welcoming, communal quality that brings families, neighbors, strangers, and whole communities together, sharing both joy and sorrow.
In truth, in the midst of such devastation, there is much to celebrate in LA county. Despite unimaginable destructive forces traveling at hurricane speeds, injuries and loss of life could have been far worse. In its wake, individuals, grassroots movements, and community and professional groups have responded with generous and skilled outpourings of support, donations, and good will within and between neighborhoods.
