By Raquel Mc Laughlin and Staff
They say Pasadena is really just a small town, where neighbors know each other by name and history binds people together. That truth feels especially alive when you step into the newly established offices of LA Fire Justice, led by Chief Executive Officer Chris Holden. The former assemblyman, who spent more than 36 years in elected office serving the people of Altadena and Pasadena, has now turned his full attention to guiding fire survivors through the long, painful road of recovery.
LA Fire Justice’s headquarters, nestled in the heart of Pasadena, doesn’t look like a law office at first glance. Local artists from Altadena line the walls with paintings and murals — a visual reminder of community pride. A massive mural recreates the Altadena of years past, while the lobby is filled with friendly faces from the neighborhood who greet visitors with warmth.
Holden wanted the building to feel less like a firm and more like a refuge. “This is about the people,” he said.
That people-first philosophy is more than words. The office has created weekly programs, including “Mental Health Mondays,” where survivors can talk openly about trauma in a safe environment. Coffee Chats encourage residents to share stories, vent frustrations, and imagine new beginnings together.
The need for such healing spaces is immense. The fires that tore through Altadena and the foothills left 19 dead and hundreds of families grieving lost homes, schools, churches and businesses. Sitting in his office with a view of the San Gabriel Mountains, Holden keeps those losses front of mind. “Every day I’m reminded of what needs to be rebuilt,” he said with steady resolve.
For Holden, this work is deeply personal. He grew up knowing many of the families devastated by the fires. Over the last eight months, he has sat across from neighbors, listening as they describe the unthinkable. With quiet compassion, he offers not just legal guidance but fatherly reassurance that they are not alone.
This year has also brought personal grief. Holden’s father, former state Sen. and LA Councilman Nate Holden, passed away on May 7 at the age of 95. His legacy — marked by courage, conviction and love of community — has only deepened his son’s resolve to carry forward the family’s commitment to service.
It is that same commitment that will shine once again at the 26th Annual Community Resource Fair & Block Party, an event Holden and his wife began decades ago. This year’s gathering in Pasadena, held Sept. 27 from 2 to 6 p.m. on the 500 block of East Jackson Street, spotlighted fire-impacted vendors, local artisans, music, games and laughter for children who have endured so much.
In every corner of his work, Holden blends compassion with action. For a community still grieving, his presence is both comforting and galvanizing. In the heart of Pasadena, amid murals of Altadena and the hum of neighborhood voices, the rebuilding has already begun.
