Resilience & Rebuilding: Surveying Impacts

Resilience & Rebuilding is an open ended series of virtual programs exploring the impacts of the recent devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, offering a container for conversation and pathways for rebuilding that foreground ecology, community, and collective wellbeing.

The inaugural program will present a multifaceted view of the fires, highlighting personal, city, county, and state level testimonials to their impact and the immediate response. Speakers include Service Employees International Union, Local 721 President David Green; California Conservation Corps District Director Nikki Morales; Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator CEO Matt Petersen; Heal the Bay President and CEO Tracy Quinn; and Altadena City Council Member Kim Yu. The conversation will be moderated by reporter Adam Mahoney.

The goal of Resilience & Rebuilding is to develop guidance for rebuilding efforts, from within and beyond the art sector, over the months and years to come. In addition to inputs from scheduled speakers, we encourage attendees to share their testimony and questions in the chat as part of this evolving document.

This program was organized by the MOCA Environmental Council and MOCA's Environmental & Sustainability Strategist Kelsey Shell, with support from Emily Mofford and Alitzah Oros, Public Programming Associate.

David Green is the President and Executive Director of SEIU 721, one of Los Angeles' most dedicated labor leaders. With over 20 years of experience at the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, he has worked to improve the lives of working families. A former social worker and member of the SEIU Local 721 Executive Board, Green combines direct experience with advocacy at local, state, and national levels. He also serves as an adjunct professor at California State University Los Angeles and was a Trustee on the Los Angeles County Employees Retirement Association Board of Investments for 12 years.

Adam Mahoney is a reporter at Capital B News, a Black newsroom. His work has been cited by the U.S. and Illinois Supreme Courts and the White House, altered the city of Chicago’s vaccine rollout plan, led to several cities using federal funds to shelter houseless people, and used by activists and organizers nationwide. He is from Los Angeles and has reported from more than a dozen U.S. states and five countries.

Nikki Morales is the Director of the Pomona and Los Angeles District for the California Conservation Corps (CCC), bringing 11 years of experience and a deep commitment to mentorship, service, and workforce development. She ensures Corpsmembers receive the training and opportunities needed to grow, fostering a strong, service-oriented culture within the district. Under her leadership, the district continues to make a meaningful impact through environmental stewardship, emergency response, and community partnerships. Passionate about developing future leaders, Nikki prioritizes expanding educational opportunities, career pathways, and hands-on training to prepare Corpsmembers for long-term success in conservation and beyond.

Matt Petersen is the chief executive and president of the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator. LACI incubates startups, creates partnerships and supports entrepreneurs in the interest of accelerating transportation electrification, clean energy and sustainable cities. Prior to joining LACI, Petersen was appointed by former Mayor Garcetti as the city’s first ever Chief Sustainability Officer. Outside his work at LACI, Petersen is on numerous boards, including the director of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.

Kim Yu is a senior safety engineer and Fire Safety Specialist at Caltech, as well as a councilmember for Altadena. With over 16 years of service as a Hazardous Materials Specialist at the Pasadena Fire Department, she led Haz Mat operations and collaborated with local agencies like LA County Fire and Sheriff's Departments. Yu has also worked with LA County Public Works and served on the State Fire Marshal’s Special Effect Advisory Committee. She holds a degree in Biochemistry from UCLA and a master’s in public health from USC Keck School of Medicine.

Tracy Quinn serves as President and CEO of Heal the Bay, leading the dynamic team of scientists, policy experts, outreach specialists, and educators in pursuit of its clean water mission. Tracy has dedicated her career to improving water quality in our rivers and ocean and ensuring safe, reliable, and affordable water for all Californians. Tracy started her career as an engineer, designing water infrastructure in Southern California and working with municipal and industrial clients to improve water quality. Most recently, Tracy served as the Director of California Urban Water Policy at the Natural Resources Defense Council where she led efforts to pass and implement climate adaption legislation and improve climate resilience and water affordability throughout California. Tracy received her Bachelors of Science and Masters of Engineering in Agricultural and Biological Engineering from Cornell University and is a licensed civil engineer in California.