Design for Disaster Response

💌 A personal message from Jessie Kawata to the DfDR LA community…

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As I reflect on the days following the devastating fires in Los Angeles, I want to express my profound gratitude to the amazing individuals who answered my call-to-action without hesitation. To my friends and colleagues who stepped forward with unwavering support - you were the catalyst for the creation of Design for Disaster Response LA, and your dedication meant the world to me.

Out of pure devastation and uncertainty, this initiative took root like a resilient seed in broken soil. United in disaster relief and recovery efforts, our incredible grassroots network grew and bloomed over the course of two months - fueled by the passion to utilize design to make a difference.

Together we gathered, shared, guided, connected, supported, and inspired - building bridges and empowering one another to take meaningful action. The ideas and projects that bloomed and continue to evolve, are a testament to the strength and creativity of this collective.

I am filled with immense hope - not only for those impacted by the fires but for what seems like the limitless possibilities that arise when design, art, and humanity intersect to drive change.

To this incredible community : thank you for your trust, your belief in this shared cause, and for showing up with open hearts and minds. Your commitment and compassion inspire me every day and I can’t wait to see what becomes of the seeds we’ve sown together.

Be a part of our community: Join the DfDR LA Facebook Group 💫

Our journey together has been incredible—we’ve organized through meetings, share outs, emails, and online documents to activate. Yet, one question continues to guide us: 💭 How can we deepen our connection with each other and with the greater Los Angeles community?

We believe our Facebook Group offers an opportunity to bridge the gap and engage meaningfully with the Altadena and Palisades communities. By meeting the communities where they are, we can foster even greater collaboration, partnership, and shared support. 🫶🏼

In fact, many fire relief and recovery groups ⛑️ have already found success in mobilizing through Facebook. Slide left 👈🏼 to see a snapshot of some inspiring examples!

This is where you come in. For this online community to truly flourish, your voice, energy, and leadership are essential. 📢

Our new community-led approach puts you at the heart of everything ❣️—driving change, making connections, and building the pillars of a stronger network. Together, we can support and uplift one another. ✊🏼

So, what do you say? Join us today! Find the link in our LinkTree. See you there.

Please join us for a 📅 Community Action Meeting on Wednesday, March 12 @ 7pm PST

🔗 Zoom Link Here: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85012326121?pwd=rkpwS0aMA3RL8JRkx27ybPbtkikZa7.1

It has been 2 months since the LA fires began and so much has happened since. We are grateful for all of you who are part of this community lending your time, expertise and hearts to help those affected by the fires.

As the landscape of recovery efforts continues to evolve, DfDR has been doing the same. Since we launched this initiative, we have seen some amazing projects develop, we’ve hosted multiple meetings including share outs, office hours and informative events, and now we are shifting to a more community-led foundation.

What we’ll cover:

✏️ Updates from existing projects
🌱 How the DfDR initiative is evolving
💬 Discussion on what it means to take collective action
🤝 Overview of the platforms available for social connection

You’re the visionaries, the doers, the innovators. We are your biggest supporters and your community. Let’s empower each other. We hope you can join us! ❤️

Join us for a DfDR Community-led Care event hosted by Rubina Chadha ().

As a community of creatives who care about humanity, we strive to help others where and whenever we can. Sometimes, this can lead to us overextending ourselves, betraying our own boundaries and even experiencing burnout. Sound familiar? 

It is important to remember that we can’t take care of others if we don’t take care of ourselves. This is why we encourage you to experience The Creative Reset with Rubina Chadha.

On February 26 at 7 PM PST, Rubina will be leading us through an immersive mindfulness workshop that offers a unique approach specifically for enhancing creativity and artistic expression.

Benefits of The Creative Reset:

* Increase creativity and flow 
* Reduce stress and anxiety
* Emotional regulation, improve focus, and physical health

Find the zoom  link to this virtual workshop in our LinkTree. 

About Rubina: 
As a creative education leader, Rubina founded Inner Design, a company that bridges the inner and outer creative journeys. Through classes, workshops, and personalized coaching, she helps individuals unlock their inner creative expression using mindfulness and breathwork techniques.

Join us to learn how creative expression across art and design can be enhanced through breathwork, mindfulness and movement. See you there!

📢 Join us for our first Speaker Series event: "Blueprints for Recovery: A Designer’s Role in Maui’s Wildfire Relief"

On February 19 at 7 PM PST, dive into a powerful conversation with Lori Nishikawa as she shares firsthand how design played a critical role in responding to the 2023 Maui Wildfires—the deadliest U.S. wildfire in over a century.

Lori and her team stepped in with creative solutions, applying design thinking to support relief and recovery efforts. This event will explore:

✨️ Lessons learned in disaster response through design
✨️ Key areas where designers can make an impact in crisis recovery
✨️ Why rebuilding is a long road—and how anyone can play a part

Save your spot now 🔗 Register via the link in our bio.

About Lori: A powerhouse creative and strategist, Lori has worked with NASA, Boston Consulting Group, and local Hawaiian initiatives. With a deep passion for impact-driven design, she is dedicated to projects that restore communities and ecosystems.

Join us to learn how design can be a tool for resilience and recovery. See you there! 💙🌊

Hi Community,

Whether it’s advice on your current project / idea or want to be involved but don’t know where to start, the DfDR Support Team is here for you. 

Come join us at our Project Office Hour, Tuesday February 11, 2025 from 8:00 PM PST to 9:30 PM PST. 

Existing Community Members - if you can’t find your email with the zoom link, feel free to contact us through email.

Want to Join the Design for Disaster Response Community? 

Please fill out our questionnaire in the link in our bio to sign up. If you want to attend the Office Hour as well, contact us at [email protected] and we will get back to you as soon as we can.

See you there!

Project Highlight : The Disaster After the Disaster

Join Christiahn () in his mission to inform and protect LA residents from the toxic aftermath of the fires—exposing the dangers of airborne toxins, carcinogens, and endocrine disruptors such as asbestos, dioxins, and lead.

While the devastation caused by the fires in Los Angeles and surrounding areas is well known, the invisible threats that linger in the air remain largely unrecognized. We are deeply grateful that the flames have been contained and communities can begin the path to recovery—but what does this mean for our long-term health? What hazardous chemicals have been released into the air from the materials that burned?

Christiahn has launched this initiative to shed light on the hidden disasters that follow the visible ones—empowering us all with knowledge to protect ourselves and our communities.

This project is currently seeking help in these areas:
* Social Media experts
* Grant Writers
* Partners
* Illustrators
* Graphic Designers
* Copywriters

Reach out directly or join our community by:

Filling out our form. Link in bio.
Emailing us @ [email protected]
Joining our FB Group : Design for Disaster Response

Project Highlight : Artists for Fire

Meet Lucy and Mandy (), two passionate artists on a heartfelt mission to support wildfire relief and recovery efforts. They’ve united their creative forces to launch Artists For Fire, a vibrant collective of artists and illustrators. This initiative focuses on crafting Los Angeles-themed drawings and paintings, transforming them into beautiful prints and postcards available for purchase on their web platform.

By purchasing these unique artworks, you’re not just adding to your collection—you’re making a tangible difference. Every penny of the proceeds is donated directly to the LA Wildfire Emergency Fund () and the Wildfire Relief Fund ().

This project is currently seeking collaboration in these areas: 
* More Artists
* Content Creators
* Operational Support

Join Lucy () and Mandy () in their inspiring effort to make art a powerful tool for change.. 🎨❤️ Reach out directly or join our community by: 

Emailing us @  [email protected] 
Joining our FB Group :  Design for Disaster Response

Project Highlight : A Fire Resilient LA 

Join Jamie () and Christiahn () on a mission to heal and rehabilitate Los Angeles’ natural environment.

The recent wildfires have left behind widespread ecological devastation and severe soil erosion. Invasive species are making matters worse by fueling these fires. But Jamie and Christiahn  are determined to change the narrative. They are using their creative talents to inspire a fresh, public perception of what a fire-resilient ecosystem can be.

By championing the rehabilitation and resilience of our landscapes, they are paving the way for a stronger, greener Los Angeles.

Be part of the change—support Christiahn and Jamie on their journey towards a more resilient LA.

This project  is currently seeking help in these areas: 
* Artists
* Copy Writers
* Subject Matter Experts
* Designers 

Reach out directly or join our community by: 

Filling out our form. Link in bio. 
Emailing us @  [email protected] 
Joining our FB Group :  Design for Disaster Response

Hello DfDR community! Join us this Sunday, February 2nd for Project Idea Share Out 2.0 at 5:00pm PST.

If you participated in the first Project Idea Share Out and presented a project idea, please join us to update the community on your progress.

If you have a new idea you’d like to present, we’d love to hear it!

Whether it’s a new idea or a project update, we encourage everyone to fill out a one-pager to present at the meeting. Sign up via the link in our bio for more information and instructions.

Use this meeting as a platform to get in front of a community of creatives wanting to help. Come prepared knowing what you need so people can connect with you to help support in those areas.

We are grateful for your desire to be part of this community, bringing your creative talents to the table so we can help as many people as possible.