A Love Letter to the City of Angels, Where the Human Spirit Soars

It’s a place of resilience, possibility, connection

My whole life, I dreamt of moving to L.A.—a place where anything felt possible. The movies, with their magic and transcendent appeal, proved beguiling. To me, Los Angeles was synonymous with entertainment and all the glam that came with it.

But now, as a resident, I know L.A. is so much more. It’s a city of infinite diversity and breathtaking beauty. The entertainment and music industries may be its heartbeat, but L.A.’s soul resides in its 88 unique communities, each with its own flair, energy and rhythm.

I’m a West Side girl, and Playa Del Rey is my home. I can’t imagine living anywhere else. But last year, my husband and I took our son and newborn daughter on a hike in Topanga Canyon. And on that crisp January day, standing on the hillside, gazing at the ocean and the magnificent homes of Pacific Palisades, it felt like paradise.

Unfortunately, in L.A., paradise is often paired with peril.

In recent weeks, fires have raged across our city, transforming it into a landscape of loss. Family homes filled with lifetimes of memories are gone. Businesses, jobs and livelihoods have been vanquished. The death count is far from final. The pain is collective. And yet, the resilience of our city is shining through.

Firefighters and first responders have shown courage beyond measure. Families have donated closets full of clothes and supplies. Volunteers have arrived in droves. Chefs, both professional and amateur, made meals for those in need. Neighbors opened their doors to strangers.

This is the L.A. I love. Not the glitzy realm of the silver screen. But a place where people come together in the face of hardship. Indeed, a City of Angels.

And we are familiar with struggle. In January 2020, we mourned the loss of Kobe Bryant, his daughter and seven others who died in a helicopter crash on Grammy Sunday. Covid shut everything down two months later. And when the city reopened in 2021, it felt like a collective exhale, only for guild strikes to bring production to a standstill. Six months of negotiations finally ended. But relief was short-lived, as delays dragged on through 2024.

The motto became “Survive til 2025.” And then, just seven days into the new year, the fires began.

Despite it all, I still believe in the magic of this city. It’s not always easy being an Angeleno. There’s the high cost of living and dense traffic. But it’s also a place where people dream big and work even harder. It’s a city of resilience, of possibility, of connection.

This past week, I’ve watched my 4-year-old—in the “why” phase—grapple with questions I can’t fully answer. Seeing his sadness as he watched news footage of children walking through the ashes of their homes was painful. Yet, I could sense the beginnings of empathy, as he gained an understanding of what it means to care for others. And that’s the lesson I hope to impart: When our community is in crisis, we use whatever superpowers we have to help.

My superpower is organizing and amplifying. When I showed up at a donation site to volunteer and was turned away because they already had too many helpers, I felt disappointed. But that didn’t dissuade me from finding a way to make an impact. Instead, I reflected on the lessons I’ve learned at the Clios about applying creativity to connect people and great ideas. I realized I could use my platform to amplify the work of those already doing incredible things.

We made the difficult decision to cancel our Clio Music Show, originally scheduled for Jan. 30, and instead redirect a portion of the program proceeds to a pair of incredible organizations. MusiCares provides assistance to members of the music community impacted by the fires, ensuring they have essential resources during this challenging time. The second group, It’s Bigger Than Us – L.A., is a nonprofit connecting communities with support, empowering individuals to thrive. This was the same concern I tried to volunteer for but couldn’t, due to the overwhelming turnout of helpers. I’m grateful I was able to find another way to back their inspiring work. I hope you will consider a contribution to these great organizations, or look into others that are offering direct assistance to those in need.

This experience has been a reminder that while we may not have all the answers, we all have something to contribute. Whether it’s donating, volunteering or simply offering kindness, every act of support matters.

Los Angeles is a city of dreamers and doers. If we lean into our strengths, work together and embrace the power of this place, we can show the world what it means to be L.A. Strong. We can rebuild this city stronger than ever.