What is The Canyon Alliance?


In the aftermath of the 2025 Palisades Fire, the Santa Monica Canyon Civic Association formed an alliance of the five neighborhoods of Rustic and Santa Monica Canyons to aid in recovery and build long-term resilience. [Update: In May 2025, the SMCCA membership voted to change SMCCA’s name to the Canyon Alliance]. Since its formation in February, the Canyon Alliance has:

  • Launched a regular and reliable news and information source, the Canyon News

  • Begun a Canyon-wide census, updated contact list, and emergency alert system for all residents

  • Represented the Canyon to City, County, State, and Federal officials as part of the recovery and rebuilding process

  • Hosted 400 members of the community for a “Return to the Canyon” event at Canyon Square

  • Helped form the Canyon Business Association to assist local businesses, services, and restaurants in their recovery

  • Engaged geography students at Santa Monica College to build a digital map survey of the Canyon for emergency preparedness and resilience

  • Helped revive and invigorate the neighborhood associations in the Canyon’s five neighborhoods

  • Raised more than $100,000 for the new Canyon Recovery & Emergency Fund

  • More than doubled the active membership in SMCCA

GOALS

1. Recovery for the Canyon 

Repopulate the Canyon, support the return of businesses, and coordinate a range of initiatives to ensure safety, security, and restoration of our vibrant community

2. Relief for Neighbors

Reach out to friends, neighbors and workers who have lost homes or livelihoods in the Canyon or the Palisades and provide support where possible while coordinating with area organizations and elected officials

3. Resilience for the Future

Deploy our community talents and experience to build a more resilient and sustainable Canyon for coming generations, including fire prevention, flood control, and earthquake preparedness. 

Support your canyon community - Donate today

The Canyon Alliance is building a post-fire and flood Recovery & Emergency Fund to provide grants for urgent projects that speed up our recovery and strengthen our resilience over the coming months and years. Our community’s goal is $150,000. In just two months we have raised more than $100,000 from nearly 100 generous donors. Please join with them and your Canyon community to help us reach our goal by the end of May 2025.

Your donation will allow the Canyon Alliance to act quickly and decisively in this post-fire period and respond to unexpected emergencies. Your donation is tax-deductible and the first $50 pays your annual SMCCA dues.

Additional information about the Fund:

Fund Brochure (2-page)

Q&A on the Fund with Doug Suisman

The Canyon Alliance 2025-2026 Board of Directors

by neighborhood

Click the name to read the bio

Map illustrating The Canyon, a community with five neighborhoods: Upper Rustic Canyon, Lower Rustic Canyon, Upper Santa Monica Canyon, Lower Santa Monica Canyon, and Boca - Mouth of the Canyon. The map shows their locations within a green and blue geographical area, with adjacent regions labeled as Huntington Palisades, Lower Riviera, and Santa Monica. The Pacific Ocean and beach are marked at the bottom. A note at the bottom right reads: 'Two canyons. Five neighborhoods. One community.' The Canyon Alliance logo and website, the-canyon.org, are also present.

The Canyon Neighborhoods