More Than 1,500 Community Members Attend 1Pali Event at Clover Park
By KAMRAN YASHOUAFAR | Contributing Writer
More than 1,500 community members gathered at Clover Park in Santa Monica to attend Rooted in Resilience on Saturday, April 19—hosted by 1Pali to serve as a day of “reflection, support and unity for displaced and fire-impacted residents.”
1Pali was founded by locals Ben Perlman, Anthony Marguleas and Andrew Grant to reconnect the community following the Palisades fire, which began on January 7. The organization’s mission is to unite the Palisades community through in-person gatherings and storytelling, “fostering hope and celebrating shared resilience.” It has also hosted a series of Zoom webinars with guest speakers, including Rick Caruso of Steadfast LA.
Perlman has described 1Pali as a “living testament to the unbreakable spirit of the Palisades.”
“After the fire took so much from us, I saw neighbors rise not just to rebuild homes, but to support one another and rekindle hope in our community,” he said. “To me, 1Pali is about harnessing that collective resilience, giving every resident a voice shaping the future of the Palisades. It’s a reminder that in our deepest challenges lies the power to create something extraordinary together.”
Rooted in Resilience—the organization’s first communitywide event—aimed to revive hope, strengthen the displaced community and offer resources.
“We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who came out to share the experience, reflect and reconnect,” Marguleas said. “It was a day full of positive energy, great music and unforgettable moments we’ll always remember.”
The event started with an introduction by Sam Laganá, announcer for the Los Angeles Rams and a longtime Palisadian.
Throughout the event, various public officials, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers personnel and leaders from houses of worship addressed attendees, recognizing both the hardships endured and the community’s commitment to recovery. Speakers included Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, Councilmember Traci Park and Colonel Eric Swenson of USACE.
Park noted that rebuilding efforts would be led by the community with government support.
Swenson gave an update on the debris removal and cleanup efforts. He said that a variety of crews were active in the area and that reopening Pacific Coast Highway to the public is a priority, as Governor Gavin Newsom announced it was on track to do so by the end of May.
Food was served by several local food trucks and vendors, including Gracias Señor, Flour Pizzeria, McConnell’s Fine Ice Cream, John Que’s Smokeout and The Tropic Truck. Robert Flutie, owner of Flour, lost both his home and his Via De La Paz restaurant in the fire, but has since reopened a location in Brentwood and is planning to return to the Palisades after the area is rebuilt.
Local firefighters from the Palisades and Santa Monica were honored on stage for their work during the fires.
The event featured musical performances by the Palisades Charter High School band, 1969 Rock Band—which performs ’60s classic rock and blues covers—led by Robert Resnick and Outer Reef led by Evan Brau.
Shawna McConald of 1969 performed the national anthem to open the event. The Pali High band performed the school’s traditional fight song.
In addition to speeches and performances, Rooted in Resilience offered a variety of activities: There were dozens of informational booths from local organizations and schools, including Pacific Palisades Task Force on Homelessness. There were also activities for children—hosted by St. Matthew’s Day Camp and Sandy Days Kids Camp—and a community mural project.
Wellness activities, with SuperBloom, included yoga, creative storytelling and a live piano meditation.
Jake Steinfeld, former honorary mayor of Pacific Palisades, read the poem “Don’t Quit,” Steinfeld’s mantra that was recently printed on copies of the Palisades flag that were available for sale.
Organizers described the event as an opportunity to reconnect with neighbors and inspire collective optimism for the future. Residents who had been displaced across Southern California came together to celebrate their community’s strength.
1Pali organizers said they are committed to reviving the Palisades community—with hopes of planning more future events to bring the community back together.
“I see ‘Rooted in Resilience’ as a celebration of the Palisades we all call home,” Perlman said to the Palisadian-Post. “It rekindles our community’s magic, uniting us to rebuild this cherished place together, inspiring hope and honoring our unbreakable spirit as we rise stronger than ever.”
Lily Tinoco contributed to this report.
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