The Future Of Work

What will it take to rebuild Altadena after the Eaton Fires, from workforce capacity and construction training to financing, housing, and long-term community stability? Pasadena City College’s role emerged as a potential workforce development hub, with expanded trades education and plans for a construction training complex. In this Part Two episode featuring the second half of the June 4th, 2026 webinar series “Public Interest Rebuild and Community Delivery Systems”, our host Dr. Salvatrice Cummo, continues to ask the pressing questions from community leaders to ensure training meets the needs of the rebuild efforts and beyond.Capital and workforce capacity have to move together. The panelists discuss strategic solutions like construction-to-permanent mortgages, silent second mortgages, gap financing, and the risk that rebuilding projects could stall without enough trained workers. Equity remains central, especially for older homeowners, renters, lower-income families, and residents facing language, insurance, or information barriers.At the heart of the recovery is a basic goal: helping residents get back home.You’ll Learn:How construction financing gaps can prevent homeowners from rebuilding, even when workforce capacity is availableHow silent second mortgages, interest-rate buydowns, and construction loan guarantees can help reopen access to capitalWhy speed matters as insurance-funded temporary housing runs out and displaced residents face pressure to leave the communityHow Pasadena City College could serve as a central hub for recovery information, workforce training, and community partnershipsOur Speakers:Anish SaraiyaDirector of Altadena Recovery, Office of Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn BargerAnish Saraiya serves as the Director of Altadena Recovery for Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger. In this role, he leads community-focused initiatives centered around public infrastructure and public policy, aimed at enhancing resilience, rebuilding and recovery of the unincorporated Altadena community.LinkedIn - @anishsaraiya & @lacountybosInstagram - @lacountybosWebsite - https://bos.lacounty.gov/José A. Gómez Ph.D.President, Pasadena City CollegeDr. Gómez brings a rare blend of community college roots, higher education leadership, public-sector experience, and regional partnership-building, making him a powerful voice on how PCC can help connect students, employers, and recovery partners to the workforce opportunities emerging from Altadena’s rebuild.LinkedIn: @joseagomezWebsite: https://pasadena.edu/about/president/Anders CoreyPresident and Chief Executive Officer, Altadena Recovery and Rebuild Corporation (ARRC)Anders Corey offers a front-line perspective on Altadena’s rebuild, including how homeowners, business owners, commercial corridors, natural spaces, and private sector partners can work together to support long-term community recovery.LinkedIn: @anderscoreyWebsite: https://www.arrcaltadena.orgFreddy SayeghFounder, Altadena CoalitionFreddy Sayegh brings a deeply grounded, resident-first perspective on Altadena’s recovery, having helped organize more than 125 fire-related events, workshops, outreach efforts, and recovery programs since the Eaton Fire. Attendees will hear from someone working directly in community advocacy, rebuilding support, trauma-informed recovery, and equitable resident-centered action.LinkedIn - @freddysayeghInstagram - @thealtadenaBryan WongCEO, San Gabriel Valley Habitat for HumanityBryan Wong leads a team of 70+ individuals in the mission of building homes, community, and hope. He brings 30+ years of housing finance, education, and community leadership experience to the conversation, offering attendees a powerful perspective on how rebuilding homes can also rebuild stability, opportunity, and generational wealth for Altadena families.Linkedin: @bryanwong & @sangabrielvalleyhabitatforhumanityInstagram: @bryanjohnwong & @sgvhabitatWebsite: https://sgvhabitat.orgJoshua HumphriesSenior Advisor to the President, Special InitiativesJoshua Humphries currently serves as Senior Advisor at the California Community Foundation (CCF), leading special initiatives for the foundation. His work is focused on tackling Los Angeles’ most urgent challenges, including housing, economic mobility, and place-based neighborhood revitalization, by incubating new solutions where traditional tools have fallen short.Engage with us:LinkedIn, Instagram & Facebook: @PasadenaCityCollegeEWDJoin our newsletter for more on this topic: ewdpulse.comVisit: PCC EWD websiteListen to these related Future of Work Episodes: PART ONE: Reshaping Altadena Through Community-Led RecoveryHow EWD Is Creating A More Responsive Approach to Workforce, Rebuilding & RecoveryBridging Recovery and Workforce with PCC’s Wildland Fire Academy & Mathew Barboza, Dean of Business and Enrollment Management Making Recovery Equitable & Inclusive with Anish Saraiya, Director of Altadena Recovery for L.A County Supervisor Kathryn BargerHow Women-Owned Businesses Lead Pasadena's Post-Fire Economic Rebuild with Lizzy Okoro Davidson, Director at Pasadena Women's Business CenterMentioned in this episode:Sign up for THE PULSE Newsletter!

Altadena’s recovery from the Eaton Fire is already reshaping the region’s future of work. With 6,000 homes lost, nearly $3 billion in public infrastructure to rebuild, and thousands of property owners still waiting to begin, the scale of the challenge is immense.This episode features Part One of the first webinar in our series called “Public Interest Rebuild and Community Delivery Systems” from June 4th, 2026. This episode explores what recovery looks like on the ground, the funding gaps facing homeowners and renters, the coordination required across government, nonprofits, philanthropy, education, and business, and the workforce needed to rebuild homes, infrastructure, commercial corridors, and community services.This discussion looks beyond traditional construction roles - architects, inspectors, permit specialists, project managers, outreach workers, mental health professionals, and workers trained in technology-enabled building will all be part of Altadena’s recovery. As the community reimagines its future, education and workforce programs have an opportunity to help local residents take part in building what comes next.You’ll Learn:Why residents need a seat at the table when priorities, funding, workforce strategies, and rebuilding plans are being shapedHow PCC can help build a local workforce pipeline for traditional trades, technical construction roles, infrastructure projects, and technology-enabled homebuildingWhy Altadena’s rebuild presents an opportunity to rethink commercial corridors, public infrastructure, energy systems, and the city’s future workforceOur Speakers:Anish SaraiyaDirector of Altadena Recovery, Office of Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn BargerAnish Saraiya serves as the Director of Altadena Recovery for Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger. In this role, he leads community-focused initiatives centered around public infrastructure and public policy, aimed at enhancing resilience, rebuilding and recovery of the unincorporated Altadena community.LinkedIn - @anishsaraiya & @lacountybosInstagram - @lacountybosWebsite - https://bos.lacounty.gov/José A. Gómez Ph.D.President, Pasadena City CollegeDr. Gómez brings a rare blend of community college roots, higher education leadership, public-sector experience, and regional partnership-building, making him a powerful voice on how PCC can help connect students, employers, and recovery partners to the workforce opportunities emerging from Altadena’s rebuild.LinkedIn: @joseagomezWebsite: https://pasadena.edu/about/president/Anders CoreyPresident and Chief Executive Officer, Altadena Recovery and Rebuild Corporation (ARRC)Anders Corey offers a front-line perspective on Altadena’s rebuild, including how homeowners, business owners, commercial corridors, natural spaces, and private sector partners can work together to support long-term community recovery.LinkedIn: @anderscoreyWebsite: https://www.arrcaltadena.orgFreddy SayeghFounder, Altadena CoalitionFreddy Sayegh brings a deeply grounded, resident-first perspective on Altadena’s recovery, having helped organize more than 125 fire-related events, workshops, outreach efforts, and recovery programs since the Eaton Fire. Attendees will hear from someone working directly in community advocacy, rebuilding support, trauma-informed recovery, and equitable resident-centered action.LinkedIn - @freddysayeghInstagram - @thealtadenaBryan WongCEO, San Gabriel Valley Habitat for HumanityBryan Wong leads a team of 70+ individuals in the mission of building homes, community, and hope. He brings 30+ years of housing finance, education, and community leadership experience to the conversation, offering attendees a powerful perspective on how rebuilding homes can also rebuild stability, opportunity, and generational wealth for Altadena families.Linkedin: @bryanwong & @sangabrielvalleyhabitatforhumanityInstagram: @bryanjohnwong & @sgvhabitatWebsite: https://sgvhabitat.orgJoshua HumphriesSenior Advisor to the President, Special InitiativesJoshua Humphries currently serves as Senior Advisor at the California Community Foundation (CCF), leading special initiatives for the foundation. His work is focused on tackling Los Angeles’ most urgent challenges, including housing, economic mobility, and place-based neighborhood revitalization, by incubating new solutions where traditional tools have fallen short.LinkedIn: @joshuahumphries Website: https://www.calfund.orgListen to these related Future of Work Episodes: Bridging Recovery and Workforce with PCC’s Wildland Fire Academy & Mathew Barboza, Dean of Business and Enrollment Management Making Recovery Equitable & Inclusive with Anish Saraiya, Director of Altadena Recovery for L.A County Supervisor Kathryn BargerHow Women-Owned Businesses Lead Pasadena's Post-Fire Economic Rebuild with Lizzy Okoro Davidson, Director at Pasadena Women's Business CenterSustaining the Rebuild: PCC's Continuing Commitment to Community RecoveryMentioned in this episode:Sign up for THE PULSE Newsletter!

After seven years of bringing educators, employers, policymakers, and community members together at the annual in-person Future of Work Conference hosted by our department of Economic and Workforce Development at Pasadena City College, this year we decided to move toward a recurring webinar series focused on sustained engagement, timely workforce intelligence, and recovery after the Eaton Fires.This episode explores why smaller, more frequent conversations can create stronger follow-up, bring practitioners closer to the discussion, and connect workforce development to rebuilding, infrastructure, and emerging employer needs. You’ll also hear how these efforts are shaping a future skills trades hub at Pasadena City College.You’ll Learn:Why smaller discussions can bring more practitioners and people doing the work into the conversationWhy employers, educators, students, policymakers, and community partners all need a voice in talent developmentHow recurring conversations create space for follow-up, clearer next steps, and timely workforce intelligenceEngage with us:LinkedIn, Instagram & Facebook: @PasadenaCityCollegeEWDJoin our newsletter for more on this topic: ewdpulse.comVisit: PCC EWD websiteListen to these related Future of Work Episodes: Bridging Recovery and Workforce with PCC’s Wildland Fire Academy & Mathew Barboza, Dean of Business and Enrollment Management Making Recovery Equitable & Inclusive with Anish Saraiya, Director of Altadena Recovery for L.A County Supervisor Kathryn BargerHow Women-Owned Businesses Lead Pasadena's Post-Fire Economic Rebuild with Lizzy Okoro Davidson, Director at Pasadena Women's Business CenterSustaining the Rebuild: PCC's Continuing Commitment to Community RecoveryMentioned in this episode:Sign up for THE PULSE Newsletter!

The Future of Work podcast is taking a small summer break, with new episodes coming your way in the fall. We encourage you to take this time to catch up on any episodes you may have missed from our library of over 150 plus conversations and to check out our new webinar series focused on Wildfire Recovery. From everyone here at Pasadena City College, we are wishing you a fun and safe summer and we'll see you in the fall with more Future of Work episodes. Learn more: PCC's Future of Work Webinar Series on Wildfire RecoveryEngage with us:LinkedIn, Instagram & Facebook: @PasadenaCityCollegeEWDJoin our newsletter for more on this topic: ewdpulse.comVisit: PCC EWD websitePartner with us! Contact our host Dr. Salvatrice Cummo directly: [email protected] the transcript of this episode herePlease rate us and leave us your thoughts and comments on Apple Podcasts - we’d love to hear from you!

What does it take to turn a crisis into an opportunity for community resilience and meaningful careers? In this episode of The Future of Work podcast, our host Dr. Salvatrice Cummo, talks with Pasadena City College’s Dean of Business and Enrollment Management, Mathew Barboza, to discuss the rapid launch and far-reaching impact of the college’s Wildland Fire Academy.Sparked by the urgent needs following the Eaton fire, this program trains and empowers students to become skilled wildland firefighters—meeting a critical demand as California’s fire season becomes a year-round reality. Tune in as we explore what it takes to adapt education for real-world challenges, hear the inspiring stories of students called to serve, and learn how innovative training is shaping the future workforce and helping rebuild lives and communities in the Altadena and Los Angeles Region.You’ll learn:Why short-term, high-impact training programs are critical for workforce readiness and regional recoveryThe importance of timing academies to synchronize with hiring cycles for organizations like U.S. Forest Service and Cal FireWhy up-to-date equipment, strong advisory committees, and close industry alignment matter for effective workforce educationThe role that accessible, responsive higher education can play in both immediate disaster response and building long-term resilienceAbout the guest:Mathew Barboza attended Cal Poly Pomona and earned his bachelor’s degree in communication arts and later attended Cal State Fullerton to earn a master’s degree in communication arts. After graduating, Barboza started a graphic design career in the advertising and marketing field, working on such global brands as Coca-Cola, Ray Ban, Bebe, Oakley, and BCBG.After 15 years in the advertising industry, Barboza made the leap to education, where he began teaching for Moreno Valley College, within the Riverside Community College system. He taught at MVC for 19 years across several FSA’s (faculty service areas) including computer science, computer information systems, graphic design, digital art, and game design. While teaching, he became interested in a management position and was hired as the Dean of CTE (Career and Technical Education) at CMC (Copper Mountain College), located in Joshua Tree, California. Copper Mountain College is one of the smallest California Community Colleges in the state, which allowed him to become deeply involved in many aspects of his CTE Dean role.While at Copper Mountain College, Barboza was approached by CMC’s Fire Technology faculty, asking him to support a new WFA (Wildland Fire Academy). As a team, the Fire Technology faculty and Mathew Barboza created and supported CMC’s very first WFA, which is still being offered today. After a few years at CMC, Barboza applied to colleges closer to his home and was hired by PCC (Pasadena City College) as the Dean of Business and Enrollment Management in 2022.While working at PCC, Dean Barboza was contacted by his former Fire Technology faculty from CMC, informing him of the fact that PCC is within the Verdugo Corridor, which meant that this Firefighter/Faculty cadre would follow him to PCC if he agreed to start a WFA there. Agreeing to this, the Fire team and Dean Barboza launched PCC’s first 8-week WFA academy in 2025.Last year’s WFA boasted a full cohort of 40 students, which was limited by the classroom size. This year, PCC’s WFA was able to move to a larger classroom, allowing the enrollment of 60 students into cohort #2.Because of our alignment with USDA FS (United States Department of Agriculture Service Forest Service) we were invited to train at MRCA (Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority) located in the Malibu Hills, where PCC currently conducts field training.Engage with us:LinkedIn, Instagram & Facebook: @PasadenaCityCollegeEWDJoin our newsletter for more on this topic: ewdpulse.comVisit: PCC EWD websiteMore from Dean Barboza & The Wildland Fire Academy at PCC:Visit - WIldland Fire Academy CertificationDean Barboza: [email protected] or 626-585-7684LinkedIn - @mathewbarbozaFull-time faculty Lead Captain Frank Brambilla: [email protected] or 626-585-7647Partner with us! Contact our host Salvatrice Cummo directly: [email protected] the transcript of this episode herePlease rate us and leave us your thoughts and comments on Apple Podcasts - we’d love to hear from you!

How can we build a healthcare workforce that truly reflects and serves our diverse communities? Our host Dr. Salvatrice Cummo, talks with founder and CEO of Futuro Health, Van Ton-Quinlivan. Together, they tackle some of the most pressing challenges in today’s healthcare labor market—from meeting critical workforce shortages to designing inclusive, accessible pathways into stable, middle-class careers.Van shares her story of escaping from the Vietnam War with her family at the age of six, being a first-generation college graduate, and how she was able to become a trailblazer in workforce strategy.In this discussion, Salvatrice and Van emphasize how community colleges can become powerful engines for equity, and explore how partnerships and innovative approaches are reshaping the bridge between education and employment, especially with AI on the horizon.You’ll learn:How Futuro Health is addressing both workforce shortages and equitable access to healthcare careersHow partnerships between education and industry—especially at community colleges—are being reimagined to scale opportunitiesWhy AI and technology are fundamentally reshaping workforce structures and what that means for preparing students for future jobsHow embedding real-world experiences and work-based opportunities is becoming critical for students’ upward mobility in a changing economyAbout the Guest:Van Ton-Quinlivan is the Founder and CEO of Futuro Health and is a nationally recognized workforce strategist and institution builder working at the intersection of healthcare, education, and economic mobility.As a national nonprofit addressing one of the country’s most urgent challenges: expanding the healthcare workforce while creating scalable pathways to middle-class careers. Futuro Health partners with healthcare providers, education providers, government and community organizations to design and scale talent solutions that strengthen healthcare access and economic opportunity. Van specializes in building durable workforce infrastructure that aligns capital, policy, and industry to solve talent challenges. She brings deep experience in cross-sector partnership, large-system transformation, and workforce strategy at scale.Her career spans senior leadership and governance roles across the private, public, and nonprofit sectors. She previously served as Executive Vice Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, the nation’s largest system of higher education, where she transformed workforce and career education strategy. Under her leadership, annual workforce investments grew from $100 million to over $1 billion, significantly expanding employer-aligned career pathways.She is the author of WorkforceRx and speaks nationally on healthcare workforce transformation, workforce infrastructure, and strategies to expand middle-class career pathways. Her work has been recognized by the White House as a Champion of Change for advancing economic opportunity.Engage with us:LinkedIn, Instagram & Facebook: @PasadenaCityCollegeEWDJoin our newsletter for more on this topic: ewdpulse.comVisit: PCC EWD websiteMore from Van Ton-Quinlivan & Futuro Health:Website - https://futurohealth.org/LinkedIn - @vtquinlivan & @futurohealthInstagram - @futurohealthX - @workforcevan & @futuro_health Partner with us! Contact our host Salvatrice Cummo directly: [email protected] the transcript of this episode herePlease rate us and leave us your thoughts and comments on Apple Podcasts - we’d love to hear from you!

What does true community recovery look like one year after disaster strikes—and how can we ensure that no one gets left behind?In this episode, our host Dr. Salvatrice Cummo, sits down with Anish Saraiya, Director of Altadena Recovery and Deputy Supervisor for Planning and Development with the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. With a background in civil engineering and public infrastructure, Anish shares firsthand-insights on what recovery looks like one year after the devastating Los Angeles fires of 2025.Together, they explore equitable and inclusive approaches to rebuilding—especially for those often left behind, like renters, working class families, and multi-generational homeowners. The conversation delves into how systems can better serve communities in crisis, the vital role of coalition-building across public, private, and nonprofit sectors, and the unique contribution of community colleges like PCC in preparing the workforce for recovery-related jobs.You'll learn:How inclusive recovery efforts must address the needs of renters, working-class families, and multigenerational households often left behindThe evolution of rebuilding strategies: moving from disconnected systems to unified plans, with all utilities coordinated before home construction beginsHow Pasadena City College and other community colleges serve as agile partners for workforce training and immediate response following disastersWhy building inspection, project management, and skilled trades are high-demand careers in the regional reconstruction effortsThe crucial role of listening to diverse community voices and tailoring recovery solutions to meet distinct constituent needsAbout the Guest:Anish Saraiya serves as the Director of Altadena Recovery for Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger. In this role, he leads community-focused initiatives centered around public infrastructure and public policy, aimed at enhancing resilience, rebuilding and recovery of the unincorporated Altadena community.Prior to his current position, Saraiya served as Supervisor Barger's Planning and Public Works Deputy and Senior Advisor on land use planning, development, public infrastructure, environment and sustainability, and housing. In this capacity, he played a pivotal role in shaping policies and programs that balance growth with environmental stewardship, addressing the needs of both urban and rural communities within the Fifth Supervisorial District.Before transitioning into public policy, Saraiya worked as a Civil Engineer for Los Angeles County Public Works. There, he specialized in transportation planning and traffic engineering, contributing to the development of infrastructure projects that improved mobility and safety across the County.Saraiya earned his degree in Civil Engineering from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, equipping him with a strong technical foundation that has informed his work in both engineering and public policy.Born in Dallas and raised in the San Gabriel Valley, Saraiya has deep ties to the Los Angeles area. Outside of his professional endeavors, he is an avid sports fan and dedicates much of his time to coaching his children's sports teams, fostering a sense of community and teamwork.Engage with us:LinkedIn, Instagram & Facebook: @PasadenaCityCollegeEWDJoin our newsletter for more on this topic: ewdpulse.comVisit: PCC EWD websiteMore from Anish Saraiya & Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors:Website - https://bos.lacounty.gov/LinkedIn - @anishsaraiya & @lacountybosInstagram - @lacountybosPartner with us! Contact our host Salvatrice Cummo directly: [email protected] the transcript of this episode herePlease rate us and leave us your thoughts and comments on Apple Podcasts - we'd love to hear from you!

What if volunteering, raising kids, learning on the job, and real life experience counted just as much as a college degree? In this episode of Future of Work, Dr. Salvatrice Cummo talks with Parina Parikh, Associate Vice President overseeing Job for the Future's strategic presence in California, about what it really means to create a workforce that works for everyone. Parikh shares how community colleges, competency-based learning, and credit for real-world experience can help close opportunity gaps. She also redefines what makes a "quality job," stressing equity, mobility, and belonging, and how small businesses can help lead the charge. Join us to discover how you can be a part of building a new and better workforce standard for the future. You'll learn: How inclusive workforce programs start with inclusive design, and what that means in practice. Why regional strategies are essential to solving California's workforce and housing challenges. How community colleges are at the forefront of credentialing outside traditional classrooms. What Jobs for the Future is doing to help small and mid-size employers offer quality jobs. Why "everything counts" and how your non-traditional experiences are more valuable than you think. About the Guest: Parina Parikh is an Associate Vice President overseeing Jobs for the Future's strategic presence in California. She has responsibility for business development and fundraising, cultivating relationships and partnerships, and building workforce and inclusive economic development initiatives. As a leader who is committed to equity, inclusion, and a holistic approach to workforce development and inclusive regional economies, her focus is on leading and advancing JFF's work in California, supported by a team of 20+ California-based colleagues. Before joining JFF, Parina was Vice President of Programs at San Diego Workforce Partnership. She created and executed innovative workforce solutions across San Diego County overseeing programming in information and communications technology, energy construction and utilities, healthcare and behavioral health, public administration and advanced manufacturing. Engage with us: LinkedIn, Instagram & Facebook: @PasadenaCityCollegeEWD Join our newsletter for more on this topic: ewdpulse.com Visit: PCC EWD website More from Parina Parikh & Jobs for the Future: Websites: https://www.jff.org/ LinkedIn: @parina-parikh Partner with us! Contact our host Salvatrice Cummo directly: [email protected] Want to be a guest on the show? Click HERE to inquire about booking Find the transcript of this episode here Please rate us and leave us your thoughts and comments on Apple Podcasts; we'd love to hear from you!

What if the biggest barrier to success in tech isn't access, but mindset? In this episode of Future of Work, Dr. Salvatrice Cummo talks with Tara Chklovski, founder and CEO of Technovation, about what it truly takes to thrive in an AI-driven world. Tara unpacks why resilience and adaptability are just as vital as technical skills, how simulation-based learning can reshape education, and why women are most at risk of being left behind. Together, they explore how community colleges, mentorship, and real-world problem-solving can unlock opportunity for all. The future of work isn't just about tech, it's about who's empowered to shape it. You'll learn: Why AI literacy starts with confidence, not code, and how to build both. How educators can move beyond "toy problems" and toward real-world innovation. What emotional and cognitive resilience look like in a rapidly evolving workforce. How women are being left behind in fast-growing tech sectors, and how to fix it. Why simulation learning may be the most powerful classroom tool we're not using. About the Guest: Tara Chklovski is the founder and CEO of Technovation, a global nonprofit dedicated to empowering girls and underserved communities through technology education. With a background in physics and aerospace engineering, she transitioned from academia to social entrepreneurship to address the gender and racial disparities in STEM fields. Tara has helped over 130,000 students across 100+ countries build confidence, tech skills, and purpose. Her work has been recognized by Forbes, the UN, and the White House, and she continues to lead global conversations on how education and innovation intersect to shape a more inclusive future of work. Engage with us: LinkedIn, Instagram & Facebook: @PasadenaCityCollegeEWD Join our newsletter for more on this topic: ewdpulse.com Visit: PCC EWD website More from Tara Chklovski & Technovation Websites: https://www.technovation.org/ LinkedIn: @tarachk Partner with us! Contact our host, Salvatrice Cummo, directly: [email protected] Want to be a guest on the show? Click HERE to inquire about booking Find the transcript of this episode here Please rate us and leave us your thoughts and comments on Apple Podcasts; we'd love to hear from you!

A year after the devastating Los Angeles fires in January 2025, Lizzy Okoro Davidson returns to the podcast to share how the Pasadena Women's Business Center has become a key leader in rebuilding efforts—championing strategies rooted in equity, tactical support, and economic opportunity for women entrepreneurs. Together, our host, Dr. Salvatrice Cummo, Vice President of the Economic and Workforce Development Department at Pasadena City College explores how we continue to rebuild a year later and the realities of what those efforts require ongoingly. Lizzy shares how programs at the WBC created innovative accelerators that were responsive and specific to different women-owned sectors, like beauty professionals and how the formula to relief and support-success is to listen with intent and build the solutions needed in real time. They also discuss the importance of community, challenges unique to women-owned businesses, and the broader economic impact when women are given resources to thrive. You'll Learn: How recovery from natural disasters is a long-term process, and why continued support for affected small businesses remains crucial Why women-owned businesses are uniquely resilient and have a higher success rate, making their recovery critical to community health How the Women's Business Center (WBC) is tackling these challenges through targeted accelerators, one-on-one advising, and specialized bootcamps How diversifying income streams can be a disaster-prone strategy and how government contracts and certifications can unlock new revenue opportunities for women-owned businesses About the guest: Lizzy Okoro Davidson is an LA-based entrepreneur, consultant, and public speaker who serves as the Director of the Women's Business Center at Pasadena City College. With over a decade of experience in media, consulting, and public speaking, Lizzy has worked with leading brands such as Nike and Adidas. Before working with the Women's Business Center, she founded Bunch Magazine in 2011. She has experience managing a team of 100+ creatives including writers, photographers, stylists and art directors in a dozen countries over the course of six years. Throughout her career, Lizzy has been dedicated to empowering women entrepreneurs and fostering inclusive economic growth by providing the tools, resources, and support they need to thrive. Engage with us: LinkedIn, Instagram & Facebook: @PasadenaCityCollegeEWD Join our newsletter for more on this topic: ewdpulse.com Visit: PCC EWD website More from Lizzy Okoro Davidson & Pasadena Women's Business Center: Visit: Pasadena Women's Business Center LinkedIn: @lizzyokoro The Grant Program mentioned in this episode was funded by 11:11 Media Impact and GoFundMe.org, in partnership with the Pasadena Women's Business Center with support from the Pasadena City College Foundation. Click to learn more Want to partner with us or be a guest on the podcast? Contact our host, Dr. Salvatrice Cummo directly: [email protected] Find the transcript of this episode HERE Please rate and review the show by leaving us your thoughts and comments on Apple Podcasts - we love hearing from you!