The Palisades fire burned: 23,000 acres homes, businesses, schools and places of gathering were amongst the 10,000+ infrastructures that were destroyed by the fire.
“I’m very fortunate that my house was in a safe zone, however, my grandma lives in Santa Monica; safety was not the case for her as her house was less than three miles away from the fires,” Harper Stone (‘28) said. “Our hearts are so heavy and sick with the loss within her community. I have many friends who have lost their homes, high school, preschool and places that hold cherished memories.”
In this historical moment when many Angelenos were distraught, the Webb community’s efforts to support those affected by the fire offered hope.
Billie Guerrero and Sawyer Belville, Science Department Faculty, came together to support those impacted. Two days after the Palisades fire broke out, Ms. Billie and Ms. Belville organized a donation drive centered on gathering donations of necessities, including hygiene products, food and money.
“We focused on [civilians] most urgent needs, such as tampons, pads, pet supplies, blankets, and toys,” Ms. Billie said. “We were also fortunate to receive some monetary donations, so I made a trip to Costco to purchase packaged foods, diapers, and wipes—items that were in high demand.”
To expand their donation initiatives, Ms. Billie and Ms. Belville reached out to those in the Webb community for support.
“The Webb Community has a strong history of generosity and action, so it made sense to turn to them for support,” Ms. Billie said.
Inspired to make a change for those impacted, Dr. Susanna Linsley, Director of Experiential Learning, made a monetary donation to the donation drive too.
“I felt so helpless, and when I saw the email about the drive, it felt like a no-brainer: people were in need, and I wanted to help,” Dr. Linsley said.
Having impacted thousands of Angelenos, community efforts are essential in the processes towards re-building Los Angeles. From losing homes to locations that held great significance, simple acts of donations can immensely support individuals as they move towards recovery.
“I want to see people come together to help rebuild the love and culture that fills L.A.,” Harper said.
Though the re-building of Los Angeles will be a physically and emotionally slow and challenging process, the continuous support from communities all around provides a sense of hope for those impacted.
![Kenny Clay (‘25) and Leia Albornoz (‘25) blast the speakers in the library, bringing good vibes to lunch on Friday the 13th of last week. Anyone walking by could hear the best tunes coming from the library that drew in a crowd of people. Kenny and Leia do not have record players yet, so for now, they are DJing using a laptop set up. “I just want to push my music agenda,” Kenny said. “Steph [Ma (‘25)] said this is just a lame excuse to be on AUX, but I’m gonna capitalize off that.”](https://webbcanyonchronicle.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Albornoz-Antecol-DJ-Kenny-GRAPHIC-1200x900.jpg)
![On one of the Webb robotics team’s new Skytech Nebula computers is Jake Hui (‘25), engineer of Webb’s 358 Robotics team who is currently improving his team’s robot virtually in a Computer Aided Design application, or CAD. Before the building, the driving, and the victories, comes the prototyping of the robot.
“Right here [on his computer] is where the robot is designed, and I have access to all the parts that I need to try things out,” Jake said.
Technical computer skills as well as an intimate knowledge of how robots work is required to efficiently work in the CAD design space. The skills are well worth the time spent, as it can save hours or even days' worth of time spent on assembly in the real world.
"If there is a piece that we don’t have, 3D print it to see if it's really necessary before making an expensive purchase, as the parts can cost hundreds of dollars,” Jake said.](https://webbcanyonchronicle.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/IMG_2381-1200x900.png)
![An incarcerated firefighter’s hand reaches through prison bars toward a firefighter’s helmet, overlaying the beach near the Pacific Palisades fire. Despite risking their lives, incarcerated firefighters are prevented from becoming firefighters after release due to background checks for occupational licenses, which perpetuates cycles of incarceration. “There's lots of evidence to suggest that [occupational licenses are] partly about restricting access to the profession,” said Professor J.J. Prescott, the University of Michigan Henry King Ransom Professor of Law, who is researching the effects of criminal record expungement. Shouldn’t the protectors of our communities be given a second chance?](https://webbcanyonchronicle.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Duan-incarcerated-firefighters-final-1-1200x750.jpeg)
![Scrolling through the TikTok comment section of popular influencer Julia Ernest, you notice a common pattern. People are spending their time watching TikToks of people they wish they looked like and comparing themselves. “I think that my 12-year-old is probably more body conscious than I would have said that I was at that age,” said Sarah Lantz, Dean of Students. “[This occurrence is] because she is exposed to those videos on social media.” Most influencers feed into the unrealistic beauty standards engraved in our minds, making us feel as if we need to alter our appearance to feel good enough.](https://webbcanyonchronicle.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Antecol-Julia-Ernest-Social-Media-Affects-1200x900.jpeg)
