 On June 12, Leadership Pasadena celebrated the graduation of its 2025 cohort with a ceremony at the historic Maxwell House in Pasadena. Surrounded by alumni, local leaders, and community partners, the graduating class shared the results of six months of intensive work, culminating in a powerful showcase of community impact projects focused on fire recovery and resilience.
This year’s cohort directed its collective energy toward addressing the aftermath of the Eaton Fire and preparing for future emergencies. The graduates tackled real-world challenges through five team projects centered on:
These projects exemplify the program’s mission to develop effective, connected leaders who are equipped to respond to timely and complex local challenges. The 2025 cohort represented a diverse range of sectors, including nonprofit, education, public service, health care, and business. Through Leadership Pasadena’s immersive curriculum, participants strengthened their understanding of civic systems while building meaningful, cross-sector relationships. The graduation ceremony also served as a celebration of partnership, with special thanks extended to the City of Pasadena and numerous community organizations for their support of the program and its participants.  As our 2025 cohort nears the end of its journey, May brought both exciting momentum and moments of meaningful reflection. Participants made impressive progress on their community impact projects and came together for a Resilience session facilitated by Lisa Dadd. Centered on personal resilience, practical tools were offered for navigating stress and adversity, while also highlighting the importance of supporting one another along the way. LP Alumni joined our 2025 participants for a powerful Governance Session featuring Pasadena Fire Chief Chad Augustin, City Manager Miquel Marquez, and U.S. Representative Judy Chu. Each speaker shared candid perspectives on the challenges our community faces, especially in the wake of the Eaton Fire, and the vital role of principled leadership.
Our Arts session at Pasadena Media was a highlight as participants created fun, creative public service announcements celebrating Pasadena as “The Center of the Universe.” Mayor Gordo would be proud! The session was further enriched by a special performance by participant Danny Hesse and LP alum Jasiri Jenkins-Glen, whose music reminded us that each of us brings hidden talents to our community. We were also honored to welcome Jaeda Snow, LP ’24 and current board member, in her role as Executive Assistant to the Senior Vice President for Advancement and External Relations and Governors Board Liaison at The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens. Jaeda spoke with the group about The Huntington’s history and current initiatives, connecting the cohort to the institution’s rich legacy and ongoing community impact. Special thanks to the following alumni, community leaders, and organizations for their invaluable support:
  CEO James Chang welcomed us to the Pasadena Federal Credit Union, where our cohort gathered for an inspiring Economic Development session that spotlighted the resilience shaping Pasadena and Altadena’s business communities.
Kaiy Smith, owner of Stems Catering and Neighbors & Friends in Old Town Pasadena, opened the afternoon by sharing her journey as a small business owner. Kaiy reflected on the challenges and triumphs of nurturing community through local retail, emphasizing the importance of supporting local entrepreneurs and the ripple effect they have on Pasadena’s economic and cultural vitality. Later, Dr. Julianna Delgado, Cal State professor, Pasadena Planning Commissioner, and dedicated volunteer with the Altadena Chamber of Commerce, led a session on the “Back in Business” initiative. She shared, “Small businesses are the heart of our neighborhoods. Every day, we have the chance to create spaces where people feel seen, connected, and inspired.” The “Back in Business” initiative will be instrumental in helping Altadena businesses rebuild following the devastating Eaton Fire. The session also featured insights from Teresa Garcia, Senior Project Manager for the City of Pasadena’s Economic Development team, who discussed current initiatives shaping Pasadena’s economic future and fielded questions from the cohort about how to spur the local economy. Finally, James Ku (‘24), Chief Development Officer at Panda Restaurant Group and current LP Board Treasurer, spoke about the challenges and opportunities in domestic and international business. James offered a global perspective on how Pasadena’s economy connects to broader markets and the importance of strategic leadership in navigating these complexities. Participants left these sessions energized and inspired, ready to apply these lessons in their own leadership journeys.  Our 2025 cohort gathered at the Brandeis campus of American Jewish University in Simi Valley at the end of April for an unforgettable ropes course experience. Together, we discovered how to leverage our unique strengths, support one another, and even face a few fears head-on. The day was filled with laughter, teamwork, and personal breakthroughs — reminding us all that leadership is about stepping outside our comfort zones and growing together.
 In March, our 2025 Cohort engaged in many transformative learning experiences. Here’s a recap of our recent sessions:
Conflict Workshop: Tools for Resolution Participants explored frameworks for resolving conflicts by fostering curiosity, taking responsibility, and creating win-for-all outcomes with facilitator Lisa Dadd. The workshop emphasized active listening, self-awareness, and letting go of being “right” to rebuild trust and connection. Education Field Trip: Exploring Pasadena Unified Schools The cohort visited Norma Coombs Elementary School and Pasadena High School to learn about the innovative programs shaping local education. Highlights included a tour with Norma Coombs Principal Raymond Cross, questions and answers with PUSD Chief Academic Officer Dr. Helen Chan Hill, and insights from PHS student leaders from the Law & Public Service Academy and the Associated Student Body. The day concluded with reflections on the importance of supporting public education. Science & Tech Session: Innovation at Caltech A field trip to Caltech did a deep dive into how Caltech engages with and supports the greater Pasadena area. The session featured presentations on tech-driven economic development, a campus tour led by alum Ann Motrunich (‘12), and an introduction to the Caltech Science Exchange. Participants left inspired by Caltech’s role not only in advancing global innovation, but in its role as a key community partner. Looking Ahead Next up? Learning about trust to more on Pasadena's economy and local governance. These leaders are getting ready to make a real difference!  We held our first area-focused sessions for Leadership Pasadena's Class of 2025 at the end of February. Project Bootcamp was hosted by the Flintridge Center. This year, there will be five project teams, all focused on various aspects of Eaton Fire Response, from mental well-being to small business recovery. This was followed by our Pasadena History and City Bus Tour. Special thanks to Manuel Carmona (‘17), Director of Pasadena Public Health, and John Williams (‘08), Executive Director of the Center for Restorative Justice, for leading the class discussion at Harambee Ministries about how community affects our collective quality of life. Angela Lee (‘24), Executive Director of Harambee Ministries, added to the history discussion by touching on the history of Harambee, as well as the history of the Black community in our area. Our City Bus Tour, led by Brian Biery, made dedicated stops for discussions with key community leaders, including Danny Parker of the 710 Advisory Commission and Charles Loveman of Heritage Housing Partners. The tour included a trip to Altadena to witness firsthand the challenges the community is facing. Both sessions highlighted how we, as leaders, can help rebuild and reconnect our community moving forward.  Leadership Pasadena’s Class of 2025 is officially underway! We have another incredible group of local leaders with us this year and we can't wait to keep you posted on what they accomplish. We’re excited to have Lisa Dadd of Carolina Caro’s Conscious Leadership Partners facilitating our 2025 leadership sessions. Lisa takes a dynamic approach, one that is grounded in realism and extensive, diverse experiences. The class completed the first leadership retreat at the Tournament of Roses in late January. Now they are moving on to community impact projects where the focus is on rebuilding and reconnecting our community given the devastation of the Eaton Fire. Cohort members will reach out to civic leaders, key community stakeholders, and alumni for expertise and support. Stay tuned!  To our Leadership Pasadena community: Like so many of you, we’ve spent the past week grappling with devastating loss and trying to put one foot in front of the other. Many of our alumni, staff, board, & incoming cohort have either lost their homes or been displaced indefinitely. We are still assessing our next steps, but know this: we are not going anywhere. We are ready to work with our incoming cohort and each of our alumni and community partners to start rebuilding together. As an organization that has worked with so many local leaders in Pasadena and Altadena over the years, we know that our communities are well equipped to support each other through the aftermath of this tragedy. LP will be here as a place of community growth, organizing, and empowerment every step of the way. Look out for more from us soon - and in the meantime, please read the letter below which was sent to our LP community this week. If you’d like to support our rebuilding efforts, please consider donating to us here or a Go Fund Me created by our Board Treasurer, James Ku. Sending each of you strength and comfort, The LP Team  Dear Alumni & Friends -
Our hearts go out to all who have been affected by the devastating Eaton Fire. The destruction is heartbreaking; the impact on our community is profound. While we face this tragedy together, it presents us with a unique opportunity to demonstrate true leadership. Our goal will be to help our community rebuild while also continuing to train more effective, compassionate leaders who are needed now more than ever. Building Community Leadership Pasadena's core strength is building community. Our immediate focus during these challenging times will be to:
Creating More Effective Leaders Our 2025 cohort was set to launch last week. We’ve made some adjustments to our program plans, which include:
Focused 2025 Community Impact Projects We’ll need our alumni to engage with us to support our community impact projects which will concentrate on:
Alumni Support Many of our alumni need additional support. Your well-being is important to us, and we want to ensure that we can provide assistance where needed. Local Funding The leadership we provide is valuable. Support our efforts. All donations are local… and will be used effectively to rebuild the greater Pasadena area for our families, friends and colleagues. Donate now. Leadership Pasadena is uniquely prepared for the challenges ahead. Stay strong, and remember that we're in this together! With gratitude - NC & Karen -- Nancy Carol "NC" Inguanzo Executive Director Karen Burgess Operations Director  Attendees discovered Pasadena’s unique military heritage on Thursday, November 14 in the beautiful Chen 100 Lecture Hall at Caltech. The event was an open and free community session. Pasadena Fire Chief Chad Augustin welcomed the community and offered his own experience of being mentored by veterans. Pasadenans have a proud legacy of defending our country and supporting our community during trying times. Led by Pasadena City College professor, Dr. Harold ‘Doc’ Martin and featuring a panel of veterans including Mitch Dorger, Alex Johnson, Jennifer Burghdorf (‘21) and Eriqlee Adame (‘24), attendees learned more about our local history and gained valuable insights from veterans’ leadership journeys and perspectives. Created in collaboration with Caltech, Pasadena City College, and the Pasadena Museum of History, this was a one-of-a-kind event. See the article about our event in Pasadena Now: Pasadena Academic Institutions Unite to Honor Veterans’ Legacy of Scientific Contributions.  The YWCA of Glendale and Pasadena held its Annual Women for Racial Justice Breakfast on October 23. Leadership Pasadena alumna Angela Scott Lee (‘24), Executive Director of Harambee Ministries, delivered an inspiring keynote address focused on racial equity and women's empowerment. The breakfast honored four remarkable women for their contributions to positive change.
Among the honorees was Christy Zamani (‘09), the Executive Director of Day One, who was recognized for her impactful work in youth development and community organizing. This annual event brought together community leaders, professionals, and elected officials from across Los Angeles County, celebrating those promoting equity and inclusion. Congratulations, Christy and Angela! |
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