Category: Social Event

Celebrating our First Young Adult Ambassador!

Chapter, News, Social Event
Wendi presenting to Erin the scholarship award.

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

The LA Chapter Steering Committee with Erin

Erin and her friend Dulce

Erin and her friend Dulce

 

Having a Blast at Walk4Hearing!

Events, Fundraising, Social Event, Walk4Hearing

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.

Scenes from Walk4Hearing

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.

» Read more

Our First HOPE Support Gathering

Accessible Entertainment, Better Hearing, Social Event

Attendees at the first Los Angeles chapter HOPE meeting

Attendees at our first chapter HOPE gathering!

The chapter held its first in-person HOPE (Hearing Other People’s Experiences) support gathering. The event allowed participants to share their hearing loss journey, challenges, and hear words of encouragement and support from others. A truly rewarding experience for all who attended.

All those who attended would like to meet again soon so plans are already underway for our next HOPE gathering.

If you or someone you know is struggling with challenges with their hearing, please reach out to the chapter. We are here to get you going on the right path to embrace and succeed with your hearing loss!

Contact us at: info@hlaa-la.org

A special thank you to Sara Osher from the HLAA North Bay chapter for sharing and advising us to set up and run our HOPE meeting!

Spring Fling Party Connects Guests from Across SoCal

Chapter, Events, Social Event
Group picture of everyone at the spring fling party

A wonderful Spring Fling turnout!

By Teri Breier

On a gorgeous spring Sunday with near-perfect weather, HLAA–Los Angeles held its largest in-person gathering in three years on March 26. The “Spring Fling” garden party, hosted by HLAA-CA Webmaster and past-chapter president Heather Lehr at her beautiful San Marino home, was attended by nearly 30 people with and without hearing loss—and not a mask in sight.

Guests included LA chapter members and their families, as well as attendees from southern California chapters like Long Beach/Lakewood, Orange County and Mission Viejo, as well as several brand-new attendees at their very first HLAA event. There were many others who couldn’t make it that were missed.

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Participate in a Vocal Program with USC’s “Here, My Voice”

Accessible Entertainment, Research, Social Event

Sandy Blake

Our own chapter member, Sandy Blake, taking part in Here, My Voice

Here, My Voice 3: Supporting the Power of Voice of Hard of Hearing People

Are you a cochlear implant or hearing aid user and interested in receiving personalized voice lessons with a professional vocal artist?

USC’s “Here, My Voice 3” program is looking for adults with hearing loss for a study focusing on improving vocal confidence and joy of self-expression. Participants can choose to work on vocal expressions such as singing or spoken words. The lessons will be held in person or on Zoom for one hour per week over a 12 week period. No prior music or singing experience is required. Individual voice lessons are provided to participants at no cost to them. If you agree to participate, you will be asked to fill out surveys and be part of individual interviews. Data will be anonymously collected. You will receive a $100 gift card as a token of gratitude for participating. Your participation is voluntary, and you can withdraw from the study at any time.

If you are interested, please contact Juri Hwang, at HEREMYVOICE-L@mymaillists.usc.edu, for more information or fill out an interest form below.

RSVP and Join our Spring Fling Party!

Events, Social Event

Hello fellow chapter members and friends! You may now RSVP for our party.

We were unable to have our party last December. However, we are making arrangements to have a fun-filled “Spring Fling” party!

Please mark your calendar for the afternoon of Sunday, March 26 for this event. Please invite your family and friends and share this news with others.

When: Sunday, March 26

Time: 1 – 4 p.m.

RSVP TODAY!

More information will be emailed to you after you RSVP.

Any questions? Just email us at info@hlaa-la.org.

February Meeting Recap – Forging Ahead in 2023!

Events, Meetings, News, Social Event

What a great meeting! Those who attended got a chance to meet our steering committee, including our new member, Valecia Adams. We also celebrated International Cochlear Implant Day which featured several familiar names from the Los Angeles Chapter family, Lisa Yuan and Malik El-Amin. And did you know World Hearing Day is coming up on Friday, March 3? Check out the HLAA website for more information about this important day.

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Getting Back Together for Walk4Hearing 2022

Advocacy, Fundraising, Social Event, Walk4Hearing

Walk4hearing logoHearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) has an annual fundraiser and raising awareness for hearing loss event called Walk4Hearing. It had been three years since we all got together for this event so for many attending, it was highly anticipated.

The LA Chapter “LA Stars” was once again the top fundraising team. We raised over $7,000 with many of our chapter members participating to raise funds for this important event. The weather was beautiful and the location perfect to enjoy and spread the word. Many folks stayed afterward for a nice lunch and to catch up. We also had a good turnout but expect a bigger turnout next year as many folks didn’t attend this year out of precaution with Covid.

Wonderful memories and friends made with excitement already started for next year. See you then!

If you have any questions or would like to learn more, please contact us at info@hlaa-la.org.

Chapter Social Gathering to see CODA

Accessible Entertainment, Events, Social Event

CODA MovieWe had a wonderful chapter social gathering this spring to celebrate the CODA movie. Many of those who attended had not seen each other since pre-pandemic so it was a much-needed time together. After some pre-movie good food and appetizers, we all enjoyed a truly enlightening and magical movie. Although the movie does focus on the deaf community, we do hope it will also raise awareness for those with hearing loss.

And a special thank you to our host, Sandy Blake, for allowing us to mess up her home!

If you have any ideas or suggestions for a chapter social gathering, please email us at info@hlaa-la.org.

 

 

First Chapter Social Event of the Year!

Events, Social Event

Undoubtedly, the pandemic has put quite a strain on social connections and support. That’s why our first in-person chapter social event was so important as we slowly find our sense of normal again. A big thank you to Heather for hosting a successful event and more plans underway for gatherings in the coming months. It was wonderful to see some familiar faces again!

If you have any suggestions or questions, just email us at info@hlaa-la.org.

 

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