Free school supplies might get families in the door Saturday at John Muir High School, but the real giveaway runs deeper: a vision of what happens when community organizations stop treating problems in isolation and start throwing parties with purpose.
The Family Fun Fest, running from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., brings together an unlikely coalition—The Salvation Army, a high school parent association, a justice advocacy group, and a Black-led mutual aid organization—for what organizers call “a celebration of community and connection.” Translation: Come for the $100 gift card giveaways, stay for the community building.
“We want to talk about mental well-being. We want to talk about promoting and advocating for unity and solidarity in our community,” explained Heavenly Hughes, who co-founded My TRIBE Rise, the lead organizing partner for Saturday’s event.
Since 2019, Hughes and co-founder Victor Hodgson have built their nonprofit into a multi-pronged support system for working-class, elderly, and disabled Black residents in Altadena and Pasadena. They tackle everything from food insecurity to violence prevention—perhaps making Saturday’s festival less about entertainment and more about engagement.
The lineup reflects this dual purpose. Christine Marie, the New York-born singer fronting rock/dance cover group The CliQue, will share the spotlight with Tommy the Clown, the Detroit-born performer whose Hip Hop Clowns dance crew operates and under strict rules: “No gangs, No drugs, Do well in school (grades, attendance and behavior) and be a role model by living a positive lifestyle at all times.”
That message resonates with Hughes, who has spoken about the need for “putting a stop to the senseless violence that we see happening” in the community. When Tommy the Clown (real name: Thomas Johnson) gained international recognition through David LaChapelle’s 2005 documentary Rize, his “clowning” dance style came with built-in social expectations.
The venue itself—John Muir High School Early College Magnet at 1905 North Lincoln Avenue, under Principal Dr. Lawton Gray’s leadership—transforms from educational institution to community hub. My TRIBE Rise, operating from its East Colorado Boulevard office, sees such gatherings as entry points to deeper conversations.
While children collect free backpacks (available while supplies last) and families enjoy the entertainment, the coalition—including John Muir Parent Teacher Student Association and 626 Justice—pursues a larger goal. This is what happens when organizations addressing food insecurity, housing challenges, and violence prevention decide the best delivery system might just be a summer party.
“With fun, music, food, and community spirit, Family Fun Fest is shaping up to be one of the can’t-miss events of the summer for Pasadena families,” organizers noted in their promotional materials.
But in neighborhoods where My TRIBE Rise operates, where mutual aid means more than charity and where community events double as intervention strategies, “can’t-miss” carries weight beyond entertainment value. Saturday’s festival offers something rarer than free backpacks: a chance to see what community care looks like when it stops apologizing for being joyful.
For more, visit: https://mytriberise.
