Rebuild California to host 'Stronger Together' summit in Pasadena to help wildfire survivors

Rebuild California will hold a free "Stronger Together" Solutions Summit on Saturday, Feb. 21 at the Pasadena Convention Center to connect wildfire survivors with recovery resources, organizers announced.

The event runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is described as family-friendly. Organizers say attendees will be able to meet directly with experts on insurance, rebuilding and mental-health support and learn about grants, wildfire preparedness and how to avoid predator scams and problematic contracts.

Nicole Fienstra, founder of Rebuild California, said the summit is personal for her because she ‘‘was displaced by the fires myself’’ and started the organization to make recovery processes easier. "I started Rebuild California to help simplify those processes in plain English so that people don't feel lost navigating them," Fienstra said. She added that attendees can meet builders, local officials and organizations "all working to help families move towards their future avoiding long-term setbacks." "My hope is that everyone who attends leaves feeling less alone, more informed, and reminded that rebuilding in every sense is possible," she said.

Organizers said the summit will provide information about grant programs with a stated range of $6,000 to $115,000, insurance options, wildfire preparedness and mental-health supports. The announcement did not specify the grant programs' names, eligibility criteria or funding sources. Details on those items are available from event organizers at rebuildingca.org.

The summit also will include sessions on recognizing and avoiding scams and reviewing contracts related to rebuilding, organizers said. There was no mention in the announcement of any formal vote or government action tied to the event.

For more information and to register for the free event, visit rebuildingca.org.