🎉 HLAA-LA Holiday Party: A Day of Joy and Connection
Celebrating community, laughter, and the spirit of the season.
Laura, Teri, and Leslie enjoying the company
We had a wonderful time at the HLAA-LA Holiday Party! From delicious food and festive drinks to holiday karaoke carols and hilarious White Elephant hijinks, the joy was contagious. A special shout-out to Chris—our DJ, lead singer, and Santa all rolled into one. Triple threat indeed!
We are appreciative to our amazing steering committee members—Wendi, Tim, Paulette and Anna—who were helpful in making this event possible, and to new member Cassandra for welcoming us and finding us a meeting space for the event. Huge thanks to everyone who pitched in to set up and clean up. Your efforts made the afternoon shine even brighter.
A group of chapter friends enjoyed an outing to a captioned movie, The Naked Gun. No complicated devices, no tech hiccups, just a smooth, relaxing experience where everyone could fully engage with the film. For many, it was the first time to truly feel included in a theater setting, where accessibility wasn’t an afterthought but simply part of the experience.
It was standing-room only at our Hearing Other People’s Experiences (HOPE) meeting on February 22, where about 15 people gathered, including several new to HLAA. Attendees shared their heartfelt hearing loss stories and supported each other for two hours and many stayed afterwards to continue the conversation, while enjoying the brunch feast provided by our “hostess with the mostess” Georgia Fleischer. The theme of our sharing seemed to be “We are all family and never alone.”
HLAA National even sent a photographer to shoot some photos for their upcoming magazine and other channels, with Communications representative and longtime HLAA-LA member Teri Breier present to relay the latest updates.
We had an engaging and informative presentation during our November 23 chapter meeting showcasing Canine Companions. Sarah Nigoghossian, senior instructor at SWR, provided a full overview of Canine Companions, their services, and how you might qualify. Watch the video presentation below.
We want to thank our wonderful hosts, Valecia & Vince, for generously hosting our Halloween themed HOPE gathering at their beautiful home. A big shout-out to Tim Browning for setting up the loop system and Wendi Washington for leading the insightful discussion, and to everyone who shared their personal hearing loss stories. This gathering was a true example of what it means to find strength and connection within a community of caring individuals.
Our HOPE meetings are always a safe space where we can share experiences, offer support, and provide valuable information. We are all on our unique hearing loss journey, but through these shared stories, we find understanding and solidarity in each other’s struggles, triumphs, and growth. Thank you to all who attended for your openness with those who get it. And, of course, a special mention to the delicious spread of food—because who doesn’t love a good bite during Halloween month (with no calories, of course!)? We are grateful for each and every one of you. ❤️