Support Firefighting Hero Brandon Smith's Recovery

Let me tell you about a firefighting hero...who lost his Altadena home in the Eaton Fire.

I had the absolute privilege of meeting Brandon Smith in 2017 while working at the LA Area Chamber of Commerce in its education, talent development, and smart justice departments. Brandon co-founded the Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program in 2015. His organization works at the intersection of workforce development, criminal justice, and climate crisis by supporting formerly incarcerated firefighters in transitioning home and finding employment in the fire and forestry industry. FFRP co-founders, Brandon Smith and Royal Ramey, were some of the successful few to make the challenging transition from Fire Camp to professional careers within the US Forest Service and CAL FIRE. It took them both 11+ months to find employment after being released from prison. Brandon and Royal understood that lack of employment opportunities are one of the leading causes for recidivism. They created FFRP to ease this pathway for others who shared their lived experiences. FFRP is proud to stay that it maintains a 10% rate of recidivism across the 200+ placed in employment, compared to the California state average of 41.9% and National average of 82%.

We are living through Los Angeles' most destructive wildfire to date. The Eaton Fire spread quickly through the Altadena neighborhood, destroying Brandon and his family's home with all their belongings.

Brandon Smith is an absolute hero. During this time when many of us feel so helpless to stop the toll of human suffering these fires are causing, I wanted to do a little something to help support Brandon and his family.

It's 4am and the third night of team LA no sleep, so I hope this is description is coherent.

Brandon - you're truly a California treasure! Thank you for your leadership in helping people find purpose and redemption through firefighting service.

Please donate generously to this hero and his family.

Update 1/14:

I have helped nonprofits and for-profits ask for money through grants since 2011. Business leaders often have a hard time asking for money for their great ideas. Brandon has grown as a nonprofit leader as a co-founder of the Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program and applies for grants in service of their mission to help others. I talked to Brandon this morning and he was so grateful I started this GoFundMe because he would never have started this campaign for himself. It is incredibly hard to ask for money for ourselves, especially when so many are in need. And having cash on hand is the greatest tool to help people who lost everything from these fires in navigating the crisis immediately.

Additionally, I learned that Brandon's extended family lost their homes as well. This fundraiser will support his family, his grandparents, and additional family members. Funds will be used to cover temporary needs such as food, shelter, and clothing. This immediate access to cash on hand is so important to help families meet crisis needs now.

Being the community driven, thoughtful, and giving leader he is, if we overshoot the goal, he will steward the rest of the money to help his neighbors and community of Altadena who are also navigating this crisis.

Please know donating to this campaign will benefit Brandon, his family, his neighbors and the beloved Los Angeles community of Altadena.

Through this tragedy and beyond, may we remember we belong to each other.

-Emily Blake, MSW