Maxine Waters to keynote Pasadena-Altadena Black community town hall

Congresswoman Maxine Waters will headline the inaugural State of the Black Community: Pasadena & Altadena on Sept. 26 at First AME Church Pasadena. The event will focus on Black wealth, institutions, disaster recovery and long-term community power across Pasadena, Altadena and the surrounding region.

Why it matters: - Organizers are framing the gathering as a working session on the future of Black communities in Pasadena, Altadena and nearby areas, not a one-day forum. - The event centers on economic stability, generational wealth, displacement, disaster recovery and equitable access to resources. - Leaders will use the convening to push toward measurable action, stronger institutions and shared community accountability.

What happened: - Community Women Vital Voices and the Black Clergy Community & Civic Alliance will host the inaugural State of the Black Community: Pasadena & Altadena on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026. - Congresswoman Maxine Waters will deliver the keynote address. - The event runs from 9:00 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. at First AME Church Pasadena, 1700 N. Raymond Ave., Pasadena. - Dr. Yolanda Gorman, president of the African American Board Leadership Institute, will serve as master of ceremonies.

The details: - The theme is “From Conversation to Action. From Presence to Power. Building Power. Driving Change. Securing Our Future.” - Organizers say the gathering will examine how Black residents, families, businesses, churches and institutions can respond to current challenges and shape what comes next. - The agenda includes building, protecting and transferring Black wealth, including property, businesses, financial resources and knowledge. - Leaders will discuss the evolving role of the Black Church and Black clergy as centers of leadership, organizing, economic development and social change. - The conversation will also cover philanthropy, including how resources reach Black neighborhoods and organizations, who sets funding priorities and how Black institutions can build stronger relationships with philanthropic partners. - The program will feature Antonio Manning, chair of the Eaton Fire Collaborative Leadership Council. - Other featured participants include Miguel A. Santana, president and CEO of the California Community Foundation; Dr. Lorrie Frasure, Ralph J. Bunche Endowed Chair in Political Science and African American Studies; Pasadena City Councilmember Tyron Hampton; and Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger. - Attendees will also have access to Black Main St Cafe and Black Main St Village, with space for Black businesses, organizations, entrepreneurs, community resources, conversation and connection. - The event will include a theater presentation of a Black documentary on the Eaton Fire and its impact on the community, with producers and directors participating. - A Black Art Exhibit will showcase Black history, resilience, creativity and legacy, including “The Black Legacy Voice Echoes Our Truth.” - The cafe, village, theater presentation and art exhibit will remain open to the public throughout the event. - RSVP information is being handled by Echo Hattix of Echoing Soundz at +1 424-777-5843. - The event links shared by organizers are Instagram and Facebook.

Between the lines: - The focus on wealth transfer, funding access and institutional power suggests organizers are trying to turn community concern into a broader strategy for long-term self-determination. - The inclusion of Eaton Fire recovery shows the conversation is tied to immediate local trauma as well as longer-term demographic and economic questions. - The event’s structure blends policy discussion, cultural programming and community networking, which signals an effort to reach both leaders and residents.

What's next: - Organizers say State of the Black Community is being developed as an ongoing platform for identifying priorities, collecting community data, strengthening Black institutions and creating accountability. - The Pasadena-Altadena gathering is intended to continue beyond Sept. 26 as part of a broader movement to assess where Black communities have been and what must be built and protected next. - Leaders will use the forum to consider whether the Black population in Pasadena, Altadena and surrounding communities is likely to grow or shrink over the next decade and what actions could influence that outcome.

The bottom line: - The inaugural forum aims to turn a local town hall into a sustained campaign for Black wealth, institutional strength and community power in Pasadena and Altadena.