When Jazz Brand walks into a room, he brings more than a warm smile and a calm, steady presence — he brings hope. As a dedicated volunteer collaborator at Resilient Agency, Jazz has worked tirelessly to bridge gaps in resources, amplify community voices, and stand alongside residents most impacted by violence in Los Angeles. Whether distributing food, delivering meals to those unable to leave their homes, or connecting community members to critical supports, Jazz embodies Resilient’s mission to strengthen personal resilience, foster leadership, and promote community restoration.

Jazz first connected with Resilient through its weekly food distributions, contributing his time to distribute meals, share vital information, and deliver food to people without transportation or to undocumented residents hesitant to leave their homes. “I would drive food to people who didn’t have a car, and to undocumented people who were scared to leave their homes,” he recalls. This volunteer service complemented his professional role as a housing navigator for one of the largest homeless service agencies serving underprivileged elderly individuals across the Pasadena-to-Pomona corridor.

In January, a devastating wildfire swept through his Altadena neighborhood, destroying homes of coworkers, neighbors, and teachers. “Many of the buildings around my office burned down,” Jazz reflects. “People I knew had to come to work even though their homes were actively burning. The homeless population rose overnight. It was heartbreaking.”

The disaster also affected Jazz personally — ash blanketed his home, and toxic smoke triggered debilitating asthma that required him to take a medical leave of absence. During this difficult time, he endured an upsetting confrontation at work, ultimately deciding it was time to step away. “I said, ‘I’m never going to let somebody talk to me like that in the workplace.’ Between the fire and the incident, I just quit on the spot.”

Already volunteering with Resilient, Jazz also became a client seeking support during this period of upheaval. Case manager Sonia guided him through the process of applying for The Change Reaction, a direct giving platform administered by Resilient to stabilize working Angelenos in crisis. “She wrote a letter describing what I was dealing with, and I was accepted for assistance with one month’s rent,” Jazz shares. “I wrote them a handwritten thank-you letter explaining how they helped me when I felt like I was falling through the cracks.” Beyond financial assistance, Jazz found that Resilient offered more than resources — it provided a network of care and support that he could lean on during his own time of need. “It helped me lean on my community in all aspects — my physical health, my mental health, my financial stability. That stability helped me keep my housing and get back on my feet.”

Shortly thereafter, Resilient offered him a one-month contract as a Community Health Worker — an opportunity to continue serving fire-affected communities during his employment gap. “We distributed about 20 pallets of food at the Pasadena Job Center,” Jazz says. “It helped me heal to keep giving resources to the same community I had been working in — instead of just leaving abruptly, I could remain connected.” 

Today, Jazz continues to play a vital role in uplifting underresourced community members across Los Angeles. Through his new role as part of 911’s crisis response team, Jazz helps unhoused individuals with support when they need it the most. “If somebody is in crisis and homeless, the calls are redirected to my team,” he explains. “We can provide shelter, mental health urgent care, clothes — whatever services they’re ready for in the moment. We’re trying to have community-led engagement, not just law enforcement.”

Jazz continues to uplift youth and families through his volunteer service at Resilient, encouraging others to access the very resources that supported him. “It’s about paying it forward. Sometimes a little help makes all the difference, but people don’t know where to go. Resilient shows up — to graduations, to life events, to Wednesday workshops with hot meals. It gives the community a third space where you don’t have to engage in anything negative to socialize.”

His journey — from grassroots volunteer to supported community member to crisis-response advocate — reflects the essence of Resilient’s mission: fostering safer and more empowered communities through intentional healing, leadership development, and restorative action. Jazz’s story is a testament to what’s possible when direct care meets shared purpose.

To learn more about programs like The Change Reaction, or to join #TeamResilient in service, visit Resilient Agency’s website.