After the worst fires in USA history, Compassionate Arts in Action in partnership with Posts for Peace and Justice, My Tribe Rise, and Pasadena Four Square Church Painted three (8 foot tall x 5 in) – “HOPE and HEALING FIRE POSTS.”

These 3 Art Posts, and 2 more in the planning at the Armory in Pasadena, will be at events and in burned neighborhoods to lift spirits and encourage hope and unity.

Our video about the workshop and POST has been shared at JPL, where over 200 employees lost their homes in Pasadena and Altadena due to the fires. “A bunch of scientists were touched by your work!” said Pasadena Compassionate Arts in Action and community leader, Sylvia Holmes.

Lead Artist, Heather Hillard-Bonds said, ”I want a drawing of a rose with roots, growing down into dirt. The Rose symbolizes Pasadena and Altadena. Heather’s post was designed to give hope to Altadena fire survivors, it includes images and words, like “Dena Strong” and “from out of the ashes we rise.”

Aldonia R. Bailey was Lead Artist on the Pasadena Post. This included poet Maya Angelou’s words, “Just like moons and like suns, With the certainty of tides, Just like hopes springing high, Still I’ll rise.”

Aldonia and Heather in addition to being painters, they are both Spoken Word Poets. Here is part of a poem that Aldonia wrote, “math ain’t mathing the math ain’t adding up y’all tell me what’s up price gouging rents sky high now the fires flying, FEMA hyped to the plight like a bad rash it’s all reduced to ash. 700k but there’s no water bae levels the plains bring in the rains, once again the shift is insane. I’m just saying quit playing around a sea of oceans, Still the hydrants dry, why 700k and that okay, incessantly pray because the prey on the community is the reality … it’s feeling the emotional trauma in the lives, shift unfolds, but again we shall rise. dena rise rebuild lives reimagine.”

Kira Carrillo Corser, Lisa Parsons and Chantrese Wright were the lead artists on the Post created for Heavenly Hughes, My Tribe Rise, because this nonprofit has been a partner to many of our Compassionate Arts events and is currently helping neighbors and communities who lost homes and businesses.— Kira Corser

Sponsors include: Compassionate Arts in Action, Posts for Peace and Justice, CHILL Center Inc. Charter for Compassion: Peace and Kindness Corridors, Mercey Springs, Compassionate California, Lisa Parsons, Lowes, Pasadena Foursquare Church.

Artists and community participants include: Aldonia R. Bailey, Heather Hillard-Bonds, Robin Powell, Lisa Parsons, Kira Carrillo Corser, Sylvia Holmes, Paulina Truong, Chantrese Wright, Pastor Brian and wife Carolyn Majors, Tuna Rose-Hood, Detra Rose, Danielle A. Hill, Michelle Stroman-Mcguire, Cindy, Deirdre, Brandi Khalfani, Lisa Watts, Edgar McGregor, Pastor T, Clint Johnson, Osiris, Bill.