The silver lining to LA’s twin disasters is that survivors have bonded in the aftermath of these fires to push for change and an opportunity to rebuild. In a recent episode of Rebuilding L.A., Joy Chen, the executive director of the Every Fire Survivor’s Network, talks with host Kate Cagle about how the experience of living through the Eaton Fire, and dealing with the fallout, has brought her fellow Altadeanans closer together — and forged alliances with Palisades fire victims — in the fight to make sure everyone can get back home.
#rebuildingla #lafires #survivornetwork
Three Bills Holding Insurance Companies to their Promises Pass Final Senate Committee! Senate Bills 877, 877 and 1301 now head to the Senate Floor.
Thank you @senatorsrp@senbenallen@msjoychen@everyfiresurvivorsnetwork and every person who stood with fire survivors!
fixinsurance.org
#insurance #california #fixinsurance
Joy Chen of Every Fire Survivors Network addressing the California Senate Joint Hearing: Emergency Management + Natural Resources & Water
Subject: Wildfire Recovery today.
“All survivors have is our voices.
It’s not a fair fight.”
fixinsurance.org
Survivors of the worst fires in CA history are speaking out against limits on their rights to recover damages from for-profit utilities that start wildfires this week!
“Who’s paying for all this corporate excess? The same families fighting to stay housed.”
Joy Chen @msjoychen@everyfiresurvivorsnetwork
fixinsurance.org
#california #insurance #caleg #eatonfire #consumerprotection
TODAY!
Joy Chen will testify at the California Senate Joint Hearing: Emergency Management + Natural Resources & Water
Subject: Wildfire Recovery AND Assembly Utilities & Energy Committee!
Consumer Watchdog found that California's three for-profit electric utilities gave state legislators $20 million in campaign donations and spent another $12 million lobbying Sacramento over the last two years.
"All survivors have is our voices.
It's not a fair fight.
Let's go win it." Joy Chen @msjoychen , executive director, Every Fire Survivor Network
Today!
Every Fire Survivor’s Network’s @msjoychen to Testify Before Senate and Assembly Energy Committees:
While Edison’s Profits Tripled, Survivors Are Going Homeless!
fixinsurance.org
#insurance #instagram #california
It took Commissioner Lara 16 months to acknowledge State Farm’s misconduct.
Thousands of survivor complaints to his department, still unresolved.
He calls the $2 million fine “historic.”
The @nytimes Times put “historic” in giant air quotes.
State Farm has $270 billion in assets. They earn $2.5 million every hour, just on interest.
Insurers are massively incentivized to delay and deny. And Lara lets them.
When regulators leave office and go straight to work for the companies they oversaw, public service gets shaped by private career prospects.
That’s the revolving door. And it has to stop.
We’re asking Commissioner Lara to commit to not working for the insurance industry for five years after leaving office.
Do you agree?
🔗 Add your name. Link in bio.
#EFSN #eatonfire #palisadesfire #socal #insurance
The pace of the rebuild in the L.A. area’s fire zones is falling behind. The biggest hurdle preventing survivors from rebuilding and returning home: money. People need what their insurance companies owe them and they need federal help.
🔗Watch the Full Episode at the Link in Bio.
🎤: @katecagle
🔈: @msjoychen@everyfiresurvivorsnetwork
📼: @mikebsiegel
#lafires #wildfires #insurance #palisadesfire #eatonfire
🎉 We did it!
After six weeks of pushing — with Senators Sasha Renée Pérez and Ben Allen fighting for us — Governor Newsom just issued a 4-year property tax deferment for Eaton and Palisades fire survivors. Starting tomorrow, May 1, you can apply to defer your property taxes until 2030. No penalties, no interest.
This is what happens when EFSN works with our leaders to unlock the funds survivors need to get back home.
Full story + exactly what to do: link in bio.
#EFSN #EatonFire #PalisadesFire #SoCal #insurancereform
Thank you @msjoychen for your leadership and dedication to help families keep their home insurance coverage and get the insurance benefits they pay for after a disaster!
#cantstopwontstop💪 #fixinsurance @everyfiresurvivorsnetwork
Go to Fixinsurance.org for more information about SB 877, SB 878 and SB 1301
We’re proud to recognize @MsJoyChen , Executive Director of the @eatonfiresurvivorsnetwork (Every Fire Survivors Network),on being named 2026 Woman of the Year for Senate District 25 by @SashaReneePerez
Joy has been instrumental in supporting and advocating for fire survivors across Altadena, leading a network of over 10,000 survivors and allies while ensuring their voices are heard and their needs remain front and center throughout the recovery process.
This recognition is well deserved, reflecting not only the impact of her work, but the power of community-driven leadership in times of need.
Congratulations, Joy. We’re so proud of you and the continued impact you’re making in support of our community and neighbors 💛
#LARises #JoyChen #EFSN #WomanOfTheYear #WomensHistoryMonth #DenaStrong #LAFireRecovery
After disaster strikes, recovery is often measured in dollars—insurance claims, rebuilding costs, financial losses.
𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮?
In this episode, Elaine Miller-Karas sits down with Joy Chen, Executive Director of the Eaton Fire Survivor’s Network, to explore how thousands of Los Angeles fire survivors are navigating not only financial hardship, but also the emotional toll of loss and displacement.
🔊Listen on...
Libsyn: https://bit.ly/VARW3-26-26
Spotify: https://bit.ly/RW-Spotify
Apple: https://apple.co/41eOR3G
*Links in Linktree in Bio
Through a growing community of over 10,000 survivors and allies, Joy and her network have helped unlock more than $100 million in delayed insurance payouts.
Yet what’s equally transformative is what happens when survivors come together—moving from isolation to connection, from overwhelm to empowerment.
Together, we explore how people directly impacted by disaster are stepping into leadership, advocating for change, and reshaping the systems meant to support them.
This is a conversation about more than rebuilding homes.
It’s about restoring agency, dignity, and hope—and discovering the strength that emerges when communities rise together.
About Our Guest:
Joy Chen is the Executive Director of the Eaton Fire Survivor’s Network, the largest survivor-led recovery community in the nation, representing over 10,000 fire survivors and allies across Los Angeles.
Through her leadership, the network has helped unlock more than $100 million in delayed insurance payouts and built a recovery hub recognized by the Los Angeles Times as a lifeline for thousands.
A former Deputy Mayor of Los Angeles, Joy led economic and workforce development initiatives focused on expanding opportunity in historically underserved communities.
Today, she is a leading voice in disaster recovery and insurance accountability, working to transform broken systems so families can rebuild their homes—and their lives—with dignity and hope.
