A Message from the CSRC Director Regarding the Recent Fires in the Los Angeles Region

Like all residents of Los Angeles County, I am heartbroken by the unprecedented devastation caused by the recent fires. This disaster has profoundly impacted so many of our friends, families, and entire communities. Amid this crisis, I am deeply inspired by the courage of first responders and the selflessness of volunteers working to meet the immediate needs of survivors. Their actions exemplify the resilience and humanity that define our region.

Yet, this crisis – like so many before it – lays bare stark inequities. It is a sobering reminder of the urgent work needed to dismantle systemic disparities and build a future rooted in equity and sustainability. As we look toward recovery efforts, we must embrace a collective responsibility to develop structural solutions that care for our natural environment and prioritize the most vulnerable among us. This includes addressing the distinct needs of immigrants and low-wage workers who lost their livelihoods in the fires, as well as households of modest means who lost their homes.

We also must acknowledge the often overlooked gendered dimensions of disaster. Women play critical roles in grassroots organizing and caregiving during crises while also facing unique challenges – ranging from lost wages to childcare responsibilities – that cannot be ignored.

The path ahead will not be easy, and it will require listening to diverse perspectives. The Chicano Studies Research Center and Latina Futures 2050 Lab are committed to amplifying the voices of environmental justice activists and those actively assisting the workers and residents who are far too often overlooked in the wake of environmental disasters. Our aim is to advance public understanding of the links among social inequality, the natural environment, and climate resilience.

— Dr. Veronica Terriquez, CSRC director and Co-founder of the Latina Futures 2050 Lab