Malibu Community Long Term Recovery Group April Newsletter

WELCOME TO THE
MCLTRG MONTHLY NEWSLETTER!

Click Above For The Welcome Video

March 2026. I write this on the sixth anniversary of the 2020 ‘Safer at Home’ order in response to Covid, while our community is still in recovery from the 2018 Woolsey Fire, and in the aftermath and initial recovery stage of both the Franklin and Palisades Fires. It’s been an incredibly rough stretch, to say the least.

As the Malibu Community Long Term Recovery Group formed last year, our primary vision has been to seek community wholeness. With each organization we partner with, each survivor we work alongside, and each committee we commission and grow, we build from the experience of fire survivors towards this vision of wholeness. We are honored to work with survivors to understand their recovery plan and connect them to the right resource at the right time.

Also, this past year has shown us that recovery is not something any one person or organization does alone; it is something we do together. This newsletter is one way we hope to stay connected as that recovery continues. Each month, we will share helpful links to events and resources, survivor stories, and information that supports the ongoing recovery effort. Our goal is to keep our community informed, supported, and connected as we move forward together.

Thank you for being part of this community and for the many ways you continue to show up for one another.

In Solidarity,

Gus Peterson, Executive Director of MCLTRG

MCLTRG and BGCM Offerings

The Boys & Girls Club of Malibu Disaster Recovery Center in partnership with The Malibu Community Long Term Recovery Group (MCLTRG) is here to support Franklin and Palisades Fire survivors with long-term recovery services. Our dedicated Care Coordination Team is ready to assist those who qualify with:

Personalized recovery planning: We collaborate to identify your most pressing current and ongoing needs, creating a recovery plan tailored to your individual situation.
Resource connection: We help you access the latest available support and resources by assessing your individual needs and connecting you to available resources based on qualifying criteria.
Advocacy: You won't navigate this alone. By understanding community needs, we advocate for increased financial resources for the community.

To be connected with a Care Coordinator, please email drc@bgcmalibu.org.

The Boys & Girls Club of Malibu Disaster Recovery Center is located at:

23357 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA 90265

(Located in Malibu Village, next to Malibu Village Books)

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Due to the impact the fires have had on our community, survivors of the Franklin and Palisades fires are eligible to receive a complimentary membership to the Boys & Girls Club of Malibu afterschool program (available for TK–12th grade youth).

The 2025/26 Academic School Year program ends on June 11th.

Summer Program Dates: June 22nd through August 7th *Closed July 3rd for the holiday*

*Academic School Year and Summer programs require separate memberships*

To receive a registration code for academic, summer, or both programs, please contact info@bgcmalibu.org or reach out to a Care Coordinator for more information.

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Stories of Resilience

& Community Wholeness

Keegan Gibbs and Tyler Hauptman, co-chairs of the MCLTRG Resilience and Preparedness Committee, grew up together in Malibu, sharing a deep connection through sports and surfing. During the 2018 Woolsey Fire, their bond took on new meaning as they came together to support their community in a time of crisis. That shared purpose has only strengthened through their continued response to the Franklin and Palisades fires.

Today, Keegan and Tyler work alongside local brigade members and volunteers to advance wildfire resilience through education, preparedness, and cultural change—shifting how the community understands and lives with wildfire risk.

Their current work through MCLTRG focuses on expanding Home Ignition Zone (HIZ) assessments to help residents reduce the risk of structure ignition during wildfires. In partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of Malibu, they also support youth-focused resilience efforts, including the Junior Brigade Club at Malibu High School and a fire resilience and ecology program at Manzanita School in Topanga.

The collaboration between MCLTRG, BGCM, local brigade members, and the broader community reflects a natural evolution of the commitment Keegan and Tyler made to Malibu in the aftermath of the Woolsey Fire, one rooted in service, resilience, and long-term community protection.

ABOVE: Local Malibu Brigade members alongside Malibu High School Jr. Brigade

Community Resources & Support

United Policyholders is a non profit organization providing guidance and support to households impacted by the 2025 Los Angeles Wildfires.

Through their Roadmap to Recovery® program, you can access free, trustworthy help navigating the process of returning to a wildfire damaged area, repairing and replacing damaged and destroyed property, and collecting all available insurance funds. If your property is damaged or was destroyed, United Policyholders guidance is here to help you get started on the road to recovery, make good decisions, and keep moving forward.

Click here to learn more about United Policyholders Resources

Click here to view previous Roadmap to Recovery Webinars

Operation HOPE is a nonprofit committed to supporting the relief efforts in southern California and the surrounding areas. If you are a small business owner or individual in need of financial disaster recovery services, please find more information at their website, and/or follow this link to sign up for an account to access their free services.

CAL ASSIST

SBA Assistance - New Malibu Pop-Up Location!

Upcoming Events

City of Malibu Rebuild Center

If you haven’t already, please visit the City of Malibu’s Rebuild Center located at:

23805 Stuart Ranch Road, Suite 240, Malibu, CA 90265

Open Monday-Friday, 8am-4pm

(310) 456-2489, ext. 400

The City of Malibu has issued 665 building permits related to rebuild activities and has received 241 planning submittals, with 180 planning applications approved.

Community Development Director Yolanda Bundy is available every Friday at the Rebuild Center to meet with residents and address questions or concerns. Appointments can be made by contacting (310) 456-2489, ext. 229.

The Rebuild Center also has a helpful list of resources available here.

Together, we remain committed to a coordinated, compassionate, and equitable long-term recovery for all.