Local Teens Launch Art Therapy Workshops for Eaton Fire Survivors

A group of local teens has developed an innovative art therapy program to support families affected by the Eaton Fire, offering hope and healing through creative workshops in Pasadena. The Design Dojo Youth Initiative project, co-founded by Arden Yang, Matthew Margolis, and Joseph Margolis, will host free art workshops for children and families who experienced the catastrophic wildfire that devastated local communities.

“Art is definitely something that helps reduce stress and anxiety,” said Arden, the project’s co-founder. “Our goal is to help participants put their experiences into a physical design they can reflect on.”

The workshops, scheduled from July 14 to 18, will run from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and include hands-on creative activities such as custom t-shirt and mug design using Cricut machines, as well as card-making sessions. Participants will learn design skills while processing their experiences through art, a technique supported by research showing art therapy’s effectiveness in helping children cope with traumatic events.

The project emerges from a community deeply impacted by the Eaton Fire, which killed at least 17 people and destroyed more than 9,000 buildings. The fire particularly affected historic African-American neighborhoods in Altadena and Pasadena, with over 200,000 residents placed under evacuation orders during the disaster.

The Design Dojo will culminate in a community celebration on July 19, featuring food trucks, creative stations, and a graduation ceremony where participants will receive certificates and take a group photo.

The workshops are open to all families, with a special focus on those directly impacted by the Eaton Fire. Interested families can sign up through a QR code on the project’s flyers, with organizers emphasizing their desire to welcome and support as many community members as possible.

A citation to a valid peer-reviewed study on post-wildfire child trauma study highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by families, with researchers noting significant psychological impacts, particularly on children. As Associate Professor Antero Garcia observed, “So many of the mothers I spoke with noticed ways in which their kids were acting differently after the fire.”