Altadena, California — An 18-year-old has been mobilizing resources and volunteers with a special purpose.
For Raven Keiara, a young teen who graduated from Mira Costa High School in June, but decided to take a gap year, has become a community staple leading the charge in giving back, which has become a heart-warming mission.
“I am raising awareness for my generation. We need to step up to the plate,” Raven Keiara said. “We’re all on this journey to help each other so let’s get busy championing inclusive engagement and positive impact. Social change is about paving the way for an impactful community, building bridges and that’s my role right now,” Raven Keiara said.
These days, the teen is leading by example. Raven Keiara has been busy distributing donations like toiletry items and clothing to the victims of the wildfires.
A small vision of wanting to do something to help other teens impacted by the recent wildfires turned into a big movement. A movement that all started because Raven Keiara cares. “I am just blown away with the outpouring of donations and how everybody has pitched in to help out,” Raven Keiara said.
“It chokes me up to see these families displaced and all of the devastation right now. It’s heartbreaking,” she said.
“There is a significant emphasis on Pacific Palisades and a wide range of media focused on that area. Unfortunately, there were multiple devastated areas in our region and I want to provide help to the Black and Brown communities so they are not overlooked.”
“That’s why we’ve got to be more intentional about taking care of our community,” Raven Keiara said. “I feel empowered in the presence of disaster assistance response teams such as Samitarian’s Purse providing humanitarian aid.”
“I am responding to what I see is a need. People need to feel like others care especially in situations such as these. Their lives have been completely upended. As a teen, I couldn’t imagine losing my belongings not to mention your whole house. Until things turn around for these displaced families, let’s use whatever power we have to help our peers,” Raven Keiara said.
Last year the teen launched her ‘Show Up and Step Up’ initiative to address and cultivate diversity and inclusion, especially in white-collared areas in the South Bay of the greater Los Angeles Metropolitan Area.
Her passion and sincerity have touched the hearts of many, and her dedication to helping foster inclusion and advocacy for helping people in the community has not gone unnoticed. The teen has been recognized by the County of Los Angeles, the City of Manhattan Beach, the mayor of Manhattan Beach, the California Legislature, and the US Congress chambers – the House of Representatives and the Senate.
“Giving back is a really good cause,” Raven Keiara said. “I believe more youth in the Gen Z population should find ways to give back to their communities.”
“We should all use our voice to impact change. If you have a platform you should bring awareness to help out however you can. If everybody does their part to help, we can make a huge difference, not only in our respective communities but in our world,” the teen said.
Raven Keiara expressed deep gratitude for emergency responders and the officials who have been working “around the clock” to help in the Los Angeles region. “Our brave heroes. Much respect to all of the service personnel for putting their [own] lives on the line.”
“It’s blown me away how people have come together…it brings me goosebumps…I have seen how much simple kindness means to the fire victims and the small joys through such difficult circumstances is such a good thing to witness,” Raven Keiara said.
She says organizations are always looking for more donations.
If you’d like to help the City of Pasadena collect donations for Eaton Fire victims, you can find what’s in demand on their page at: https://www.visitpasadena.com/eaton-fire