Team
Winter Bloom Market & Gathering is organized by neighbors, friends and organizations who are passionate about our Altadena community. Our coalition represents a wide range of community leaders, artists and organizations dedicated to supporting our neighbors and celebrating the spirit of Altadena.
Maggie Ruder
An Altadena resident, Maggie works around the world as a production designer for film, television and theater. She, her husband Paul and toddler son Cal are rebuilding their Altadena home after losing everything in the Eaton Fire. Inspiration for Winter Bloom came from her own local experiences. "Weeks before the fire, Plant Material hosted a small holiday market at Lincoln and Altadena Drive. Neighbors walked to and from the event, and Cal loved waving from the driveway at every passerby — it was simple, joyful, and personal. The Winter Bloom seeks to recapture that sense of community during this time of transition."
Bespoke Art Society
A love for creativity and craftsmanship brought together Hilary DeWaay and Kimberly Kirven, co-founders of Bespoke Art Society. Hilary works in diverse mediums as a graphic designer and is a colleague to Maggie in the film and television industry. She is also the creative force behind HilTop Pots. Kimberly merges her passions through exploration of visual storytelling and tactile artistry. A photographer, ceramic artist and real estate agent, she channels her innate curiosity and artistic spirit to push the boundaries of artistic expression. Bespoke Art Society not only showcases their own multifaceted work but also amplifies the voices of other talented artists across a variety of disciplines.
N.A.T.H.A. (Neighbors Acting Together Helping All)
N.A.T.H.A. is a community association with a youth-focused perspective. It's mission is to sustain our neighborhood center to continuously provide resources, support and opportunities that promote self-sufficiency and enhance the individual capacities for a healthy, safe and vibrant community. N.A.T.H.A. began as a neighborhood watch group in 1991 reacting to the problem of criminal activities that plagued its community. The neighborhood saw the need to involve children, youth and their families in turning these problems around.
Odyssey Charter Schools
For more then 25 years, Odyssey Charter Schools has served Altadena as a free K-8th public charter school. Its educational programs cultivate a whole-child learning experience through the balance of academic excellence, social responsibility and social-emotional wellbeing. Odyssey's unique school design embraces the individual and varied learning styles of all students and is tailored to meet the needs of those who learn best by doing. Students experience learning in traditional and innovative ways that blend a multitude of content sources, learning modalities and instructional approaches.
Altagether Neighborhood Block Captains
Altagether is a group of organizers and Altadena residents working to help neighbors connect with each other to navigate all steps of the post-wildfire process and keep residents in Altadena. More than 150 neighborhood captains organize their blocks — checking in on neighbors and working together for collective recovery. Captains come from every part of the community affected by the Eaton Fire and bring a wide range of perspectives, skills and passions o their work. Each one organizes in their own way, and together, they form the backbone of Altagether.
