Eighteen days after the one-year anniversary of the Eaton Fire, the monthly Leimert Park Art Walk will dedicate its January edition to Altadena, with programming focused on community recovery and cultural connection.
The event, titled “Threads of Unity: Celebrating Creative Kinship in the Spirit of George Washington Carver,” takes place Sunday, January 25, from noon to 5 p.m. at KAOS Network in Leimert Park. LA Commons, the nonprofit organizing the event, describes it as an opportunity to honor the artistic and historical connections between two of Los Angeles County’s most significant Black communities.
The fire that ignited on January 7, 2025, destroyed more than 9,000 structures in Altadena and killed at least 19 people. A UCLA study found that Black residents were disproportionately affected—a community that had grown from 4% of Altadena’s population in 1960 to 43% by the mid-1980s, during the same era that Leimert Park became the cultural center for Black Los Angeles.
According to LA Commons, the day’s activities include rhythmic drumming and movement, grounding activities, a workshop described as “Rootspeak,” story collection from Altadena community members, and an interactive art activity led by Altadena-based artist Destiny Grant. A panel discussion will feature Black Altadena community leaders discussing recovery efforts.
The event draws thematic inspiration from George Washington Carver, the Black agricultural scientist who died on January 5, 1943. Carver, known for developing techniques to restore depleted Southern soils, embodied what LA Commons calls an “innovative and regenerative spirit”—a fitting metaphor for a community rebuilding from disaster.
KAOS Network, the event venue at 4343 Leimert Boulevard, has anchored Leimert Park’s creative community since filmmaker Ben Caldwell founded it in 1984. Caldwell also launched the monthly Leimert Park Art Walk in 2010, establishing a free recurring celebration of Black art, music, and culture on the last Sunday of each month.
LA Commons, which celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2026, was founded by Karen Mack to engage communities in artistic expression that tells their stories. The organization is based in Leimert Park.
RSVP is available through Eventbrite. For information, contact LA Commons at info@lacommons.org.
For residents of a community that has spent the past year attending vigils, benefit concerts, and commemorations, the Leimert Park gathering offers something different: recognition from a neighborhood that understands what it means to build and preserve Black culture in Los Angeles.