The fires Los Angeles, California have been devastating, especially for the small community of Altadena where Alfonso and Nadine Washington lived. This is a historic black community much like the Black Wallstreet in Tulsa, Oklahoma. This is a community that even Sidney Poitier lived in the early days of black Hollywood. Many of the residents are now over 70. This was the first wealthy area that black people could live in Los Angeles. They were not permitted to buy homes in Pasadena, so they formed their own community in Altadena.

 

My friend and PAGTIC partner, Alfonzo Washington turned 78 years old in January 1. Mr Washington was the caretaker of his wife for 10 years who suffered from a botched brain surgery to repair an aneurysm in 2015 that left her immobile. He called EMS to come and evacuate her from their 3rd floor apartment, but they would not come.  As the flames where in the front of the building, EMS agreed to meet him at the bottom of a hill but he had to carry her down 3 flights of stairs with only a flashlight for light and her wheelchair.

 

This 78 year old man evacuated, the most precious thing in this world, his wife Nadine Washington down the stairs into a wheelchair and ROLLED her down a hill in a fiery inferno with no street lights and only a flashlight to guide him. They made it to the ambulance at the bottom of the hill breathing in the smoke and all the pollutants in the air. Nadine Washington died in route to the hospital. This is a true testament to the vows of "in sickness and health, until death us do part".

 

When Al returned home there was NOTHING. Everything had burned to the ground by the fire. Please donate to help with burial cost and rebuilding his life.

 

Al and Nadine Washington were community leaders working for the causes of women in Pasadena/ Altadena, and Pan Africanist working on the causes of creating trade and investment opportunities between countries in Africa and the USA. Nadine Washington's funeral and burial will be February 5, 2025.  She will be laid to rest at Forest Lawn Memorial Park.

 

I have worked with him since 2022 on the Pan African Global Trade and Investment Conference. He has selflessly help hundreds of people across the global to connect for trade and investment opportunities. He now needs our help. Please donate to the GoFundMe setup by his daughter Nini Washington. (click the link below)

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Thank you for your consideration.

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Gala Fary

Pan African Global Trade and Investment Conference

Conference Coordinator