SOUTH LOS ANGELES —There are victims of the Los Angeles area wildfires in Altadena and Pacific Palisades who probably never heard of an organization called It’s Bigger Than Us.
In the aftermath of the January disaster, It’s Bigger Than Us has become a well-known outlet for victims needing warm food, clothing, health care and hygiene products and other essential services.
The humanitarian work provided by the South Los Angeles organization prompted Assemblyman Isaac Bryan, D-Culver City, to name It’s Bigger Than Us the Nonprofit of the Year for the 55th Assembly District.
“It’s Bigger Than Us stepped up during the L.A. fires in a big way, moving essential supplies and resources to people who desperately needed them,” Bryan said in a statement to The Wave. “For that, and all of their work in recent years, this honor was more than earned.”
Bryan invited It’s Bigger Than Us Chief Executive Officer Tyrone Nance and Chief Operating Officer Molly Morrow to the State Capitol in Sacramento to make the presentation.
A week before Bryan’s tribute, the staff at It’s Bigger Than Us was given a certificate of recognition award by the Los Angeles City Council at City Hall.
“This moment is bigger than recognition,” Nance said. “It’s a reminder that consistency builds legacy, and that real impact doesn’t need applause — it needs commitment. We’re not here for the moment, we’re here for the movement.”
Five months after the wildfires were extinguished, the work continues for It’s Bigger Than Us, a nonprofit that opened its doors at a storefront in Leimert Park in 2020. The organization is now operating out of a spacious, second-floor location inside the Baldwin Hills shopping mall.
Nance, an L.A. native, said the organization is managing a caseload of about 700 families in the Altadena and Pacific Palisades areas that still need resources. It’s Bigger Than Us has expanded its services to include health care referrals, employment assistance, youth and adult programs for impacted families and weekly forums.
“We want to give young people and adults a chance to be heard — to talk about their situations,” Nance said. “As a hub, the people in Altadena and other people affected by the wildfires can pull up anytime to get what they need. Outreach is great but programming is the key to stability.”
The work provided by It’s Bigger Than Us has drawn attention beyond the state Legislature and the Los Angeles City Council.
Nance, 36, has appeared on the nationally syndicated Jennifer Hudson Show and has been interviewed by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC Australia) and ABC Network News in the U.S.
It’s Bigger Than Us also has benefited from a strong connection with 10th District City Councilwoman Heather Hutt. The organization’s headquarters are in Hutt’s district. Nance said Hutt’s support has been “invaluable.”
“It’s Bigger Than Us has been a strong advocate for Angelenos, empowering our communities even in the darkest of times,” Hutt said in a statement to The Wave. “The way this organization showed up during the devastating fires reminded us all that no matter where we live, we are all a part of one community, and it’s our duty to take care of one another.
“Tyrone and Molly’s immense kindness reminds us that our collective humanity is strengthened when we have compassion for one another.”
The connections Nance and Morrow have developed with city and state leaders helped them secure grants with the city of Los Angeles Housing Authority and the Economic and WorkForce Development Department for Los Angeles.
Nance said the grants, totaling near $50,000, have enabled It’s Bigger Than Us to increase its full-time staff and hire people impacted by the wildfires. One of the grant requirements, Nance said, is that new staff hired by It’s Bigger Than Us had to be wildfire victims.
“We’re hoping we can maintain this funding for the rest of the year,” Nance said.
Nance was working as the lead community outreach specialist for USC’s Clinical Translation of Science Department when he started It’s Bigger Than Us. He took a leave of absence from his job when the wildfires spread and caused more destruction of homes and businesses.
As the needs became greater to assist people impacted by the wildfires, Nance quit his USC job in April.
“The organization has grown so much,” said Nance, who has a master’s degree in transformational urban leadership from Azusa Pacific University. “I had to put more focus on the mission we were doing. We saw the city show up during COVID and the fires. Our goal is to keep people engaged after the moment.”
Ray Richardson is a contributing writer for The Wave. He can be reached at rayrich55@gmail.com.
