Altadena Business Owners to Share Stories of Resilience at Mariposa Night 2

In a community still healing from the scars of the 2025 Eaton Fire, local business owners will step into the spotlight to share their personal stories of recovery and resilience at Mariposa Night 2. The free storytelling event is scheduled for the evening of Saturday, March 14, at the Collaboratory, the recovery hub run by the Eaton Fire Collaborative in Altadena.

The event, sponsored by the Altadena Chamber of Commerce and Civic Association, aims to foster connection and highlight the vital role of local businesses in the town’s ongoing recovery. The evening will commence with a dinner at 6 p.m., followed by the main storytelling program at 7 p.m. While admission is free, the organizers have stated that registration will be required, with a link to be released shortly.

This marks the second Mariposa Night, a storytelling series that began with an event produced by Leadership Pasadena in the summer of 2025. The first event, held in July 2025 at the California Institute of Technology, featured residents sharing stories of community, family, and resilience in the months following the fire. This second installment will specifically feature the voices of Altadena’s entrepreneurs, many of whom faced significant personal and financial hardship.

The Eaton Fire, which ignited on January 7, 2025, burned more than 14,000 acres and resulted in the destruction of more than 9,400 structures and damage to over 1,000 more across Altadena and neighboring communities. In the year since, the community has been engaged in a complex and often challenging recovery process. Mariposa Night 2 is intended to be a testament to the perseverance of the local business community, which has been a cornerstone of Altadena’s efforts to rebuild.

The Altadena Chamber of Commerce and Civic Association, a pillar of the community since its incorporation in 1924, has been at the forefront of these efforts. According to its official website, the Chamber is dedicated to promoting the commercial, industrial, civic, and general interests of Altadena. In the wake of the fire, the organization has been instrumental in connecting business owners with vital resources and support services.

The choice of venue for Mariposa Night 2 is also significant. The Collaboratory, located at 540 W. Woodbury Road and operated by the Eaton Fire Collaborative, was established to serve as a centralized hub for fire survivors. It provides a physical space where residents can access a wide range of recovery resources, from assistance with insurance claims to mental health support, offered by a coalition of local nonprofits, community groups, and government agencies.

It has become a symbol of the community-led approach to recovery that has defined Altadena’s response to the disaster.

“The Collaboratory represents an important and visible milestone in the collaborative’s mission to unify precious resources, assistance, and information so that survivors can take control of their recovery,” Antonio Manning, Chair of the Eaton Fire Collaborative, said at the hub’s grand opening in October 2025.

Community members interested in attending Mariposa Night 2 are encouraged to monitor the Altadena Chamber of Commerce’s website and social media channels for the announcement of the registration link. Given the limited space and the anticipated community interest, early registration is highly recommended.