Dear Yale LA community, 

It has been two weeks since fires have swept through LA. Our hearts go out to the many members of our Yale community who have been directly affected and face a long road to recovery. At the same time, we are so touched by the outpouring of support we've received from fellow Yalies to help both the affected Yale community and Angelinos during these difficult times.

As you may know, the Yale Club of LA has been organizing a number of initiatives to support those who have been impacted, including reaching out to affected Yalies, organizing volunteer events, and partnering with other Yale alumni organizations. For both those who have been affected and those who are looking to help, here are some upcoming programs and ways you can get involved:

1. “The LA Fires: Virtual Town Hall with Dr. Deborah Fried”

We are hosting a virtual town hall with Dr. Deborah Fried, Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine, on Wednesday, January 29 at 5:00 PM PT. Whether you personally lost your home, have friends and family who have been affected, or feel hopeless watching so many in our city suffer, no one has been immune. Time has passed but the feelings of despair are not going away. An expert in psychotherapy and psychoanalysis for adults and adolescents, Dr. Fried will work with us to find strategies to manage our feelings of panic and anxiety. Let’s come together as a community to begin the healing process. Register here.

2. “Surviving Wildfires: Loss, Grief, and Hope”

How can we best support each other in the wildfires’ wake? Or understand and face the loss and grief when we feel so alone? We can find some solace and hope in shared experience. Please join us by Zoom on Thursday, February 6 from 5-6:30 PM PT for a program with experts in clinical disaster engagement, stress and recovery. The program will feature distinguished clinicians Rajita Sinha, PhD and Melinda Ann Marmar, PhD, and will be moderated by Eleanor Pepples ‘86. Sponsored by the Yale Club of SF, Yale Club of LA, Yale Club of OC, Yale Club of Sacramento, and Yale Alumni Nonprofit Alliance. Register here.

3. Yale LA Mutual Aid Sign-Up Form

For those who need or can offer tangible essentials (PPE, rooms, meals, clothes, etc.) and/or professional services (consulting, legal, insurance, contractors, architects, etc.), please fill out our mutual aid sign-up form here. Even the smallest contribution or time spent can make a big impact. All requests will be kept confidential.

4. Fundraising Efforts.

The Yale Club of LA has partnered with the Yale Club of Nevada (YCN) to raise money to purchase much-needed food and supplies for those in Los Angeles who have been directly impacted by the fires. Your donation is tax-deductible and YCN will email the necessary form for tax purposes. Click here for the donation page. Please use code YLA4LA in the notes section of your donation.

In addition, the Yale Club of Santa Barbara is running a GoFundMe page to support Yale families affected by the fires.

Please be on the lookout for announcements and information about additional initiatives and volunteer opportunities. The recovery will be long, but having a community of assistance makes all the difference. Thank you to everyone who has contributed already, and please don’t hesitate to reach out to discuss other ways we can help.

Best,
The Yale Club of LA

For more info from the Yale Club of Los Angeles, please visit our website at YaleLA.org.