Support Rebeca's Education & Healing after the Eaton Fire

Greetings and gratitude to all ~

My name is Rebeca Soto and I have lost my home and all of my personal belongings in the Eaton Fire. On Wednesday, January 8th , our house at 532 Concha St. in Altadena, California, was taken by the blaze of this fire, leaving nothing but the front facade and brick fireplace. My two roommates, Kat & Alexa, and I are safe with our two cats, but we are devastated at this immeasurable loss.

I am asking for support from my community and anybody in a position to give, to help me settle back into my life in California as I complete my final semester of graduate school.

I moved to Pasadena California in the summer of 2022 to pursue my Masters in Art Business and Masters of Fine art at Claremont Graduate University. In these two years I have lived in four different places. After our landlords in Pasadena decided to retire, my roommates and I were left to find a new home when we least expected the transition. After months of searching and applying, we met our landlord Mike, and had the opportunity to rent his family's beautiful home across from Farnsworth Park, near the foothills. This was in September. We were grateful to finally find a stable resting place after a tumultuous series of moves.

After long days on campus, it was always a special drive up the mountain, watching the city lights in my rearview mirror and arriving home to see a beautiful sunset through our old trees. As a city girl, I held a deep sense of gratitude for the opportunity to live in beautiful Altadena. But now our brief time in this space has come to an end. The few things i've collected to make a home for myself in a far place have vanished. Heirlooms, journals, clothing, food, a home- gone.

But I am resilient. After all, I've braved 26 winters in Chicago - I know I can get through one fire. While I anticipate the mourning process to be long, and the healing might take a lifetime, I believe in my ability to thrive through this moment and finish what I came here to do. My purpose is linked to the desire to support marginalized artists who dream of great, new opportunities. That is why I have studied both the business and the practice of art - to synthesize these philosophies and teach university students how to transform their passions into a flourishing, creative life.

After two and a half years of intense studies, I am still completely dedicated to my art and education through this great tragedy. My academic and artistic practice is the most consistent, motivating force in my life at the moment, and my campus community is the closest thing to home I have.

With your financial support, I will have the ability to :

Thank you to everyone who has extended their support to me and my amazing room mates already. The love is felt so deeply. Our hearts are broken, but there is faith and community.

Thank you to anyone who has read this far and made a donation. Your contributions will directly support a first generation queer Latina artist and educator complete this great academic endeavor. Sending you all of my love and a million thank yous.

Find my work on instagram at @rebecaxsoto or at rebecasoto.com .

Email me directly are [email redacted] to connect.

Mil gracias,

Rebeca Soto