After four long years, friends and family of our chapter all had a wonderful time celebrating the holidays and each other. It was wonderful to see familiar faces and many new ones!
We are thankful for all who could join us to create lasting memories and sorry for those we’ll have to see for next time. There was a lot of gift stealing during our White Elephant event but luckily no fights! Check out our photo gallery of key moments during the party.
by Rizwana Jmari
The HLAA-LA community had the distinct opportunity to engage with Dr. Sharzad Cohen, a revered audiology expert, particularly in tinnitus. As a familiar and respected figure in our chapter, Dr. Cohen’s online presentation provided a comprehensive overview of the latest updates and advances in tinnitus therapy.
(You can view the presentation at the bottom of this article)
Dr. Cohen detailed her professional journey with her deep-rooted experience and passion for audiology, highlighting her affiliations with prestigious organizations like the American Academy of Audiology and the American Tinnitus Association. Her extensive experience in the field, especially in managing tinnitus, added a rich context to her presentation.
Our chapter was well represented at the Here, My Voice 3 extraordinary event!
by Rizwana Jmari
The power of voice and self-expression took center stage Sunday, October 15, when the Hearing Loss Association of America Los Angeles Chapter (HLAA-LA) partnered with the University of Southern California for an uplifting concert event, as part of Juri Hwang’s research which combines sound art, art intervention, and neuroscience of hearing through trans-disciplinary work between Media Arts + Practice and the Keck School of Medicine’s Bionic Ear Lab.
Los Angeles, CA – October 8, 2023 – The Hearing Loss Association of America – Los Angeles Chapter (HLAA-LA) recently participated in the Black Health Matters Health Summit and Expo held on October 7, 2023, at the St. Anne’s Family Services Conference Center in Los Angeles. It was the first major outreach event for HLAA-LA post-COVID-19 pandemic.
Discovering and learning at Black Health Matters Health Summit and Expo at the St. Anne’s Family Services.
We had a wonderful meeting filled with good buzz and vibes as we shared an overview about what the chapter has been up to along with meeting our first Young Adult Ambassador, Erin McClain. If you missed this or would like to learn more about what the Los Angeles chapter is all about, please sit back and enjoy the presentation below or visit our YouTube channel.
(note: Zoom automatic captions were used so they aren’t perfect.)
If you have any questions, want more information, or even considering volunteering, please email us at info@hlaa-la.org.
As we head into Fall, grab a coffee and snack and join us. This gathering promises to be a fun event, filled with celebration, hope, and a glimpse into the future.
One of the highlights of our meeting will be the celebration of our first Young Adult Ambassador (YAA) scholarship winner, Erin McClain. Erin’s dedication and passion have made her a shining example of the values and vision that our chapter upholds. We cannot wait for you to meet her and hear about her aspirations during this event.
We’ll also share what the chapter has been doing and, more importantly, our future plans. It’s a chance for all of us to come together, exchange ideas, and learn about the exciting initiatives we have in store for our hearing loss community.
Please check your email for details to join the meeting and don’t forget to set your calendar reminder!
Wendi presented Erin with the scholarship award.
A special celebration and milestone for our Los Angeles chapter just happened! Erin McClain became our chapter’s first Young Adult Ambassador (YAA) after accepting our $2500 college scholarship. Erin hails originally from Sacramento and is attending California State University Long Beach.
The chapter hosted a nice Sunday brunch to celebrate and learn about Erin’s hearing loss journey. Diagnosed with bilateral hearing loss at age two, Erin clearly understands the challenges people face with hearing loss daily. She spoke of many ways she is able to successfully advocate for accommodations needed in class and school. She has also been an inspiration to her college peers and teachers to help them better appreciate the hearing loss community.
Erin will continue to connect with the chapter by updating us on how she is doing in school, attending a few events, and connecting on social media. Stay tuned for more information on how you can meet and learn more about Erin’s story!
Erin McClain. Our YAA scholarship award winner!
The LA Chapter Steering Committee with Erin
Erin and her friend Dulce
Steering Committee member Jackie Gayer holding check with the La Verne ULV team
In the fall of 2022, HLAA-LA chapter was approached by students at the University of La Verne business class about being the recipient of their business project, which consisted of selling a cleaning drive for smartphones. The proceeds of which would be donated to a charity of their choice. They chose HLAA-LA in order to increase awareness for hearing loss as several students on the team had family members or friends with some form of hearing loss. After ten weeks of the semester, the team sold all of their product and was able to raise almost $6000! They took first place in their class by raising the most funds for their selected charity. We are very grateful to this team of students who chose the Los Angeles Chapter to be the recipient of their hard work and generosity. Thank you to Hannah and the ULV team!
The Orange County Basketball League, headed by Mr. Ziko Pepic, is an organization that believes in sports and charity. Each season adult teams play basketball and compete for the title of champions. At the end of the season the winners receive trophies, bragging rights and they get to choose a charitable organization to receive a $500 donation. This year, Team Rocognize chose HLAA-LA to be the recipient of this generous gesture. Our chapter is honored and grateful to accept this donation. Many thanks to Ziko and Team Recognize!
Number 24 is our very own Chad Washington
It was a beautiful day to celebrate and experience Walk4Hearing in Long Beach. We had a great turnout and smiles as everyone got a chance to enjoy the festivities, catch up with people they haven’t seen in a while, make new friends, and get informed with technologies and services supporting the hearing loss community.
Marisa with her young niece Olivia.
A big highlight of the event was the Oticon hearing aids giveaway graciously set up by Zina Jawadi. Marissa Acosta ended up winning the hearing aids. She entered because her young niece, Olivia, who was just diagnosed with hearing loss, needed a pair of hearing aids! Marissa and family couldn’t believe it and felt truly blessed and plan to make the Walk an annual tradition! Sometimes the Walk isn’t just about walking, but the lifetime memories and stories that come from the event.
See our Walk4Hearing picture highlights below.
