The Point of a Network: How to Help LA

I sat down to write my usual weekly newsletter and found that I couldn’t do it. My intention was to write about an idea I chose as my annual theme for 2025. I don’t make resolutions. Instead, I choose an overarching idea that I will come back to as a guiding principle for how I engage with people and my work.

This year, the theme is stewardship. I want to place myself in an orientation of care in how I work with clients. It makes sense, because I’m never after short-term hits. I focus on thought leadership because it’s about long-term sustainability and growth.

But I can’t develop the theme into a piece. I am safe, but I can’t stop watching and doomscrolling, seeing story after story about the fires here in Southern California. Magical places I loved so much, places that inspired me to move here in the first place, are gone. Friends have lost their homes. The air smells like it did in and around New York City after 9/11.

Thinking about thought leadership doesn’t seem to matter right now. And what’s the point of even having a network if it’s not about helping people?

In an ideal world, I would want everyone to help everyone as much as possible. It comes back to stewardship. We should all help each other amplify ideas that matter to us. We should help when people need jobs. We should help entrepreneurs find new business growth. We should help when people need inspiration and encouragement. We should share our wisdom and our light.

That’s the kind of network I want to have. For today, I just want to share a few ways you can help LA.

Please consider it if you can.

  • American Red Cross: To support Red Cross Disaster Relief with a donation, visit redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767), or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
  • World Central Kitchen is providing food and water to people impacted by the wildfires in the Los Angeles area.
  • The LAFD Foundation provides vital equipment and funds critical programs to help the Los Angeles Fire Department.
  • The Pasadena Human Society is taking in animals for emergency boarding and veterinary care. They expect a surge as people can get back into the area.

Thank you on behalf of my beautiful, hurting city and the people and animals affected.

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