{"@context":"http://iiif.io/api/presentation/3/context.json","id":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/iiif/3n20c4vg91/manifest","type":"Manifest","label":{"en":["Resilience: Frances Coombes"]},"logo":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/organizations/logo_images/000/000/200/original/lapl_logo.png?1628076950","metadata":[{"label":{"en":["Agent"]},"value":{"en":["Frances Coombes","Altadena resident"]}},{"label":{"en":["Date"]},"value":{"en":["2025-10-29"]}},{"label":{"en":["Format"]},"value":{"en":["MPEG-4"]}},{"label":{"en":["Type"]},"value":{"en":["TheirStory"]}}],"provider":[{"id":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/aboutus","type":"Agent","label":{"en":["Los Angeles Public Library"]},"homepage":[{"id":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/","type":"Text","label":{"en":["Los Angeles Public Library"]},"format":"text/html"}],"logo":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/organizations/logo_images/000/000/200/original/lapl_logo.png?1628076950","type":"Image"}]}],"thumbnail":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/collection_resource_files/thumbnails/000/299/704/small/Screenshot_2026-01-09_at_11-36-55_Story_Hub_-_TheirStory.png?1767987430","type":"Image","format":"image/png"}],"items":[{"id":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164595/file/299704","type":"Canvas","label":{"en":["Media File 1 of 1 - open-uri20260108-2656257-52gza0.mp4"]},"duration":826.21867,"width":640,"height":360,"thumbnail":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/collection_resource_files/thumbnails/000/299/704/small/Screenshot_2026-01-09_at_11-36-55_Story_Hub_-_TheirStory.png?1767987430","type":"Image","format":"image/png"}],"items":[{"id":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164595/file/299704/content/1","type":"AnnotationPage","items":[{"id":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164595/file/299704/content/1/annotation/1","type":"Annotation","motivation":"painting","body":{"id":"https://aviary-p-lapl.s3.wasabisys.com/collection_resource_files/resource_files/000/299/704/original/open-uri20260108-2656257-52gza0.mp4?1767897976","type":"Video","format":"video/mp4","duration":826.21867,"width":640,"height":360},"target":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164595/file/299704","metadata":[]}]}],"annotations":[{"id":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164595/file/299704/transcript/88205","type":"AnnotationPage","label":{"en":["TheirStory Transcript (Paragraphs with Speakers) [Transcript]"]},"items":[{"id":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164595/file/299704/transcript/88205/annotation/1","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\u003cstrong\u003eSPEAKER_S1:\u003c/strong\u003e Um, it has been very meaningful to be able to raise my family in the Altadena community. Um, my children went to school in, in the neighborhood, at a neighborhood school that had been around for almost 60 years. And they've made lifelong friends there. And we've built our lives there, and we've made very, very good friends that we will know for the rest of our lives. And having a very beautiful community to raise your family and to come home to has been incredibly meaningful from a personal standpoint. Um, and we're really very indebted to the community and feel very fortunate to have lived there. That's so true. And I think, I mean, you know, that saying or cliche that a house is not a home, and that's absolutely true. Like our home is wherever we made it, and sometimes it was a hotel room, sometimes it was a motel room, sometimes it was an Airbnb. We've moved so much, and the most essential things are the people in our home. And that was it. Like our kids. And that's all that mattered. So that was a really important lesson to learn. Um, I think everybody's reaction is very different. You know, I think there are some people that were able to kind of compartmentalize what happened. You","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164595/file/299704#t=5.36,91.31"},{"id":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164595/file/299704/transcript/88205/annotation/2","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\u003cstrong\u003eSPEAKER_S2:\u003c/strong\u003e can just go. And","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164595/file/299704#t=91.31,92.51"},{"id":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164595/file/299704/transcript/88205/annotation/3","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\u003cstrong\u003eSPEAKER_S1:\u003c/strong\u003e there was a very sort of practical response. You know, we needed to go to school the next day. We needed to go to work the next day. So I think for my husband and I, we became like the shock absorbers in the house. We absorbed everything. We just wanted to create a space for our kids to be able to do their normal thing. So they in some ways they haven't. I mean, I think they've kind of processed the loss. But in terms of the day to day of logistics, I mean, it was my husband and I who were scrambling and looking for things and trying to figure out, you know, how are we going to get settled and, you know, find a place to settle down while we figure things out. Um, but the kids, they also sort of just focused on what they needed to do for the next day, which was kind of a good way of just maybe blocking things out, which may not which may or may not be healthy. But it was a way to cope. It was a way to survive. Um, but I think, I mean, it's everything sort of reveals itself in time. So in the immediate aftermath, it was more like, what do we need to survive for the next day? And then as we got more settled, it was easier to then check in on the mental and emotional side to say, you know, what do we need from that standpoint? And it was helpful that we had friends who supported us. We made sure my husband and I to always check in with the kids to tell them that it was totally okay not to be okay, which it was good that they knew that. Um, I think it was a little difficult, probably going to school because the vast majority of our school was not impacted. So I think in the immediate aftermath, there was, as you often see with disasters, the community mobilizing and this food drive and this clothing drive and stuff that people didn't really need, but people wanted to feel like they were helping the community, which is absolutely great. But then everyone got back to their normal lives, which always happens, right? There's always this rush to help, help, help. And then great, I got to get on with my life. So everybody else is sort of like, well, we're still dealing with homelessness. We're still dealing with all of these other things. So I think that's something that kids needed to probably get used to. The fact that at school, they were the outliers. They were not that many people impacted. The school was very helpful and empathetic. Pathetic. But at the end of the day, like you need to get on with it and you need to figure out a way of taking care of yourself, but also moving on. So it was complicated. It still is. Um, well, it's been it's been an experience like no other. I mean, I think the community rallied together very quickly. Um, and immediately in terms of reaching out to us for offering sort of basics that we needed to kind of get through the initial days to sharing information on things. Um, our children were very, uh, they responded very, very quickly, very clear. Headedly they were very mature throughout. They have never shown any they've never shown any weakness throughout. Not that that's a bad thing. And we've constantly asked them if they were okay, if they were needed support. But they they rallied very, very quickly and adapted to our new kind of normal. We moved six times since January. Um, that was really difficult, but we were all able to kind of come together and think about what we needed, our essentials and kind of bare, you know, pare our lives down to the most essential things, which I think was really interesting because when we look at our house, there's so many things in the house, like we just realized that we just didn't need as much, which was really interesting to me because I thought I always needed so many things but don't really need that much. So that was a really great lesson. I mean, it's hard even as adults. It's very, very hard. But I think like we, I think evolutionarily have this skill, like we all have developed this as humans, this fight or flight response like it's very normal. Like we have to have this, otherwise the species wouldn't survive, right? So everybody has this skill and at some point everybody's going to go through something difficult. And it may not be a once in a hundred year, devastating urban fire. It might just be you lose your job. It might just be you lose a friend. But there's always going to be challenges. And life is mostly challenges. I think like, I think if you kind of prepare yourself and at some point you're going to have to figure it out. So I think for my children, when I would speak to them, I would say, look, you probably didn't think you were going to be dealing with this at such a young age, but this is actually an important muscle and skill that you're going to have to learn, and you can't read it in a book. You have to go through that experience. And I think they probably didn't realize that they were building all this muscle, but it's very important, and I think that maybe made them feel a little bit better to know that this is something they're going to have to learn. It's a hard lesson to learn, but it's it's a life skill that you have to figure out. Um, and it's also okay to, I think, tell your children, like, hey, I'm anxious to like, this is a scary time. I mean, I think you need to be careful because you don't want them to be afraid, but it's okay to say, hey, sometimes I'm really sad about it. Or, you know, like, it's important to show that you are vulnerable, too. So. And it's also, I mean, the fire did not impact people all in the same way. And the recovery has not all been in the same way. So I think it's also been important to share with them, like, hey, you're very fortunate that your parents happened to have the wherewithal to provide for you in a certain way or that your insurance company was maybe better than somebody else's. Like so for them to realize not everybody experienced the fire in the same way, nor are they experiencing the recovery in the same way, because there are some families where, yes, they lost everything, but it was like we're just going to move into a new area and like get resettled and it's over. Like other people are just dealing with it. Like the recovery is much longer. So to be aware of other people's recovery journey, like it's not the same. Well, I mean. I guess just seeing our friends just, you know, figure it out and not fall apart and continue to get together and have fun and continue to laugh and find other places to gather. I mean, that's that's all resilience. Um. Uh, so, yeah, I think just on the day to day, we didn't stop doing we didn't stop doing our normal rituals like we used to get together with our friends on Sundays for dinner or Saturday. We just did it somewhere else. So I think that's really important. I mean, you just reminded me of something else, and you asked, like, where did I learn this resilience from? Like, I think for me it was very important as I was telling my kids that this is like, yes, it completely sucks that this happened to you, but that you're not alone. And that to give them other examples of people that they know that have been through really tough times. I mean, when I think of my own parents at at their age, they were fleeing civil war. I mean, like, this is not new, like disasters, crisis, uh, humanitarian crises like this happens every day. A still happens every day. I mean, there's it's going on everywhere. Like. So you're not alone. People get through it. People get through it and lead really fulfilling lives. Successful lives. So, like, this is not going to define you. It might be a defining period in your life, but it's not going to define you. And I think that is been a really great way for them to understand, like what's happening to them and maybe a link to their grandparents who went through arguably very similar events. So I think that's been really helpful. Well, I, I'm, I grew up going to church and having that community, and I still am a very religious person, spiritual person. Um, and that has been that has been a really important source of solace during really difficult times, and I've had so many examples in my own life where I've been challenged, but have things have always worked out and I've learned a lot from these experiences. So I think that kind of gives me perspective. And it's it's a source of strength. So, um, yeah, I mean, I think that's that's been a big part of my life always. Um, so yeah, um, I think the community has well, it needs support. It continues to need support of local leaders, state, federal to make sure that the opportunity to rebuild and repair is there and it's easily accessible. Um, yeah. I mean, I think it needs the ongoing support of the government as well as the outer community to continue to, to support, you know, knowing that, hey, we're going to rebuild and restores are going to come back. And for people to support that effort and to not lose attention on it, and for people not to turn away because it's a I mean, it can happen anywhere now. This is not because we live in a wooded area by the mountains. I mean, this was an urban fire and literally had the winds changed, it could have hit other areas. So I don't think people should really think, well, that's not really going to ever happen to me. Like, no, that's a reality. So I think there needs to be a broader support, like, hey, we need to make sure this this community is rehabilitated because it's it supports everything else. Nobody lives in like a bubble. If that situation is bad, they're just it's going to bleed out like it's not a good thing. Um, and I think the community is really strong. There's, you know, people continuing to get together either online, in forums or together in person. There's definitely more rebuilding that's starting to happen. So I just think that it is it's becoming apparent to people that this community needs to come back, because if it doesn't, it will have lasting effects on the other outer areas. So I think everybody needs to realize that they have a stake in community coming back. I think probably just the collective pressure that has been placed on leaders to be accountable and to do the right thing. I think that's really helped. Um, I mean, it's helped that those leaders have been responsive as well. I mean, there's no precedence for this. There is no like, let's look back at what happened. Dot, dot, dot. There just isn't. Um, so I think the pressure and the community continuing to stay really alert and vigilant in making sure that leaders are accountable has, has helped. I mean, that needs to continue.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164595/file/299704#t=92.55,820.95"}]},{"id":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164595/file/299704/index/90462","type":"AnnotationPage","label":{"en":["Auto-generated Index (2025-10-29 22:29:17) [Index]"]},"items":[{"id":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164595/file/299704/index/90462/annotation/4","type":"Annotation","motivation":"supplementing","body":[{"type":"TextualBody","value":"The Meaning of Community and Home","format":"text/plain","label":{"en":["Title"]}}],"target":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164595/file/299704#t=0.0,91.0"},{"id":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164595/file/299704/index/90462/annotation/5","type":"Annotation","motivation":"supplementing","body":[{"type":"TextualBody","value":"The speaker reflects on the deep significance of raising a family in the Altadena community, highlighting the value of neighborhood schools, lifelong friendships, and the sense of belonging that comes from a supportive environment. They emphasize that home is defined by the people within it, not just the physical space, and recount experiences of moving frequently, sometimes living in temporary accommodations. The essential lesson learned is that the most important aspect of home is the presence and well-being of loved ones, rather than material possessions or a fixed location.","format":"text/plain","label":{"en":["Synopsis"]}}],"target":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164595/file/299704#t=0.0,91.0"},{"id":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164595/file/299704/index/90462/annotation/6","type":"Annotation","motivation":"supplementing","body":[{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Immediate Reactions and Coping After Disaster","format":"text/plain","label":{"en":["Title"]}}],"target":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164595/file/299704#t=91.0,173.0"},{"id":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164595/file/299704/index/90462/annotation/7","type":"Annotation","motivation":"supplementing","body":[{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Following a disaster, the speaker describes the family's immediate, practical response, focusing on the need to maintain daily routines such as school and work. The parents took on the role of emotional 'shock absorbers,' striving to create stability for their children while managing logistical challenges and uncertainty. The children coped by concentrating on their immediate needs, which the speaker acknowledges as a survival mechanism that may not be entirely healthy but was necessary in the short term. Over time, as the family became more settled, they were able to address their mental and emotional needs more directly.","format":"text/plain","label":{"en":["Synopsis"]}}],"target":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164595/file/299704#t=91.0,173.0"},{"id":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164595/file/299704/index/90462/annotation/8","type":"Annotation","motivation":"supplementing","body":[{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Community Response and the Challenge of Recovery","format":"text/plain","label":{"en":["Title"]}}],"target":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164595/file/299704#t=173.0,248.0"},{"id":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164595/file/299704/index/90462/annotation/9","type":"Annotation","motivation":"supplementing","body":[{"type":"TextualBody","value":"The speaker discusses the initial outpouring of support from friends and the community, including food and clothing drives, and the importance of checking in emotionally with their children. However, they note that as time passed, most people returned to their normal lives, leaving affected families to continue dealing with the aftermath, such as homelessness and ongoing recovery. The children, in particular, had to adjust to being outliers at school, where most students were not impacted, and the speaker highlights the complexity and ongoing nature of recovery after a disaster.","format":"text/plain","label":{"en":["Synopsis"]}}],"target":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164595/file/299704#t=173.0,248.0"},{"id":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164595/file/299704/index/90462/annotation/10","type":"Annotation","motivation":"supplementing","body":[{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Family Resilience and Lessons Learned","format":"text/plain","label":{"en":["Title"]}}],"target":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164595/file/299704#t=248.0,545.0"},{"id":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164595/file/299704/index/90462/annotation/11","type":"Annotation","motivation":"supplementing","body":[{"type":"TextualBody","value":"The speaker recounts the family's journey through multiple moves and the process of paring down their lives to essentials. They observe how their children responded with maturity and adaptability, and how the experience led to a reevaluation of what is truly necessary in life. The speaker reflects on the human capacity for resilience, noting that everyone faces challenges and that developing coping skills is an essential part of life. They also discuss the importance of modeling vulnerability and emotional honesty for their children during difficult times.","format":"text/plain","label":{"en":["Synopsis"]}}],"target":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164595/file/299704#t=248.0,545.0"},{"id":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164595/file/299704/index/90462/annotation/12","type":"Annotation","motivation":"supplementing","body":[{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Teaching Resilience and Perspective to Children","format":"text/plain","label":{"en":["Title"]}}],"target":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164595/file/299704#t=545.0,628.0"},{"id":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164595/file/299704/index/90462/annotation/13","type":"Annotation","motivation":"supplementing","body":[{"type":"TextualBody","value":"The speaker connects their family's experience to broader historical and global challenges, such as their own parents fleeing civil war. They emphasize to their children that adversity is a universal part of life and that others have faced and overcome even greater hardships. By sharing these examples, the speaker aims to help their children understand that their current difficulties do not define them and that resilience is a skill built through experience. This perspective also helps the children feel less isolated and more connected to their family's history and the wider world.","format":"text/plain","label":{"en":["Synopsis"]}}],"target":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164595/file/299704#t=545.0,628.0"},{"id":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164595/file/299704/index/90462/annotation/14","type":"Annotation","motivation":"supplementing","body":[{"type":"TextualBody","value":"The Role of Faith and Spirituality","format":"text/plain","label":{"en":["Title"]}}],"target":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164595/file/299704#t=628.0,674.0"},{"id":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164595/file/299704/index/90462/annotation/15","type":"Annotation","motivation":"supplementing","body":[{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Faith and spirituality are described as vital sources of comfort and strength for the speaker during challenging times. Drawing on a lifelong connection to religious community, the speaker finds solace and perspective in their beliefs, which help them navigate adversity and maintain hope. This spiritual foundation has consistently provided support and learning opportunities throughout their life, reinforcing their resilience in the face of hardship.","format":"text/plain","label":{"en":["Synopsis"]}}],"target":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164595/file/299704#t=628.0,674.0"},{"id":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164595/file/299704/index/90462/annotation/16","type":"Annotation","motivation":"supplementing","body":[{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Ongoing Community Needs and Broader Implications","format":"text/plain","label":{"en":["Title"]}}],"target":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164595/file/299704#t=674.0,785.0"},{"id":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164595/file/299704/index/90462/annotation/17","type":"Annotation","motivation":"supplementing","body":[{"type":"TextualBody","value":"The speaker stresses the importance of continued support from local, state, and federal leaders, as well as the broader community, to ensure the successful rebuilding and rehabilitation of the affected area. They caution against complacency, noting that disasters can happen anywhere and that the health of one community affects surrounding areas. The speaker highlights the ongoing efforts of residents to rebuild and the necessity for collective investment in the community's recovery, emphasizing that everyone has a stake in its future.","format":"text/plain","label":{"en":["Synopsis"]}}],"target":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164595/file/299704#t=674.0,785.0"},{"id":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164595/file/299704/index/90462/annotation/18","type":"Annotation","motivation":"supplementing","body":[{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Accountability and Leadership in Recovery","format":"text/plain","label":{"en":["Title"]}}],"target":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164595/file/299704#t=785.0,826.21867"},{"id":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164595/file/299704/index/90462/annotation/19","type":"Annotation","motivation":"supplementing","body":[{"type":"TextualBody","value":"The speaker concludes by highlighting the role of community advocacy and vigilance in holding leaders accountable during the recovery process. They acknowledge the responsiveness of leaders despite the unprecedented nature of the disaster and stress the need for ongoing pressure to ensure that recovery efforts remain effective and equitable. The speaker underscores the importance of sustained community engagement to achieve long-term recovery and resilience.","format":"text/plain","label":{"en":["Synopsis"]}}],"target":"https://lapl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/3578/collection_resources/164595/file/299704#t=785.0,826.21867"}]}]}]}