When the fires happened in Altadena, I saw how quickly life could change. So many people I knew lost everything, and I just felt this deep need to do something. My mom wouldn’t let me donate my own clothes, so I made an Instagram post asking for donations — clothes, makeup, jewelry, anything that could help girls feel like themselves again. That post became the start of Altadena Girls.

I think what really inspires me is community — seeing people come together when things are hard. I also think back to when our house flooded in Tennessee a few years ago. I remember feeling embarrassed to ask for help, and I just wanted to feel normal again.

Through Altadena Girls, I’m working to erase the stigma around asking for help and to give girls a safe, welcoming place to belong. Whether it’s through our pop-up centers or the new space we’ve built for dance, music, and community, I want it to remind people that it’s okay to need support — and that we all deserve to feel confident as we're rebuilding Altadena. - Avery Colvert