Resilience and Unity Take Center Stage at Mayor’s Interfaith Breakfast

Fire Chief Chad Augustin honored for the work of the Pasadena Fire Department and his leadership

Against a backdrop of shared loss and collective strength, hundreds filled a ballroom Thursday morning at the Pasadena Convention Center for the 52nd annual Mayor’s Interfaith Breakfast, hosted by Friends In Deed.

The event, marked by heartfelt prayers, community tributes, and stories of resilience, reflected the deep emotional toll and inspiring response to January’s Eaton Fire, which devastated communities in Pasadena and Altadena.

“Flowers help people bloom,” said Rabbi Joshua Grater, executive director of Friends In Deed, in his opening remarks. He shared the story of how donated flowers from Trader Joe’s, arranged by unhoused women at the nonprofit’s Women’s Room, sparked healing and connection. “Some of these women hadn’t spoken in weeks — and yet through the simple act of arranging flowers, they found community again.”

The Interfaith Breakfast, which drew civic leaders, clergy, first responders, and community members, like many recent events, focused on the theme of resilience — spiritual, emotional, and structural — in the wake of the wildfire that displaced thousands.

Mayor Victor Gordo addressed the crowd with a rallying call to unity. “We are one community,” he said, referencing both Pasadena and neighboring Altadena. “We may be two geographic locations, but we are one ‘Dena.”

Gordo, who visited fire zones daily for weeks, acknowledged the psychological and generational scars left by the disaster. “Lives were ripped apart,” he said. “But I also saw neighbors come together like never before… 27 people now meet every Sunday — many who never even knew each other before.”

The breakfast also featured a keynote address by Pasadena Fire Chief Chad Augustin, who described January 7 as “the most challenging day” of his career. He recounted dramatic rescue efforts, including the evacuation of nearly 500 patients from two skilled nursing facilities and the harrowing losses endured by firefighters trying to save homes that later reignited.

Augustin praised the entire city workforce — from librarians reading to displaced children to transit drivers braving smoke to evacuate seniors. “These acts of love and generosity are what make this community so special,” he said.

The event concluded with interfaith prayers, including a moving invocation from Chris Tilly of the Islamic Center of Southern California, who reminded attendees of a verse from the Quran: “Indeed, with hardship comes ease.” Cantor Ruth Berman Harris led a musical benediction, joined by clergy from across Pasadena’s religious spectrum.

Clergy members assembled at the front of the room as those who lost their places of worship in the fire were invited onto the stage. The audience then joined together in singing “Sanctuary Song,” creating a powerful moment of unity and support.

Rabbi Grater emphasized that stories, not statistics, are what define Friends In Deed’s mission. One such story was “Ms. Harris,” an 80-year-old woman who lost her home in the fire and was helped by Friends in Deed through an emergency motel program. “It’s about walking with people,” he said.

Hundreds walked together Thursday morning.