March 22, 2024 - Noon - 1:00PM (PST)

California, understanding and accessing Ryan White, OA-HIPP, EB-HIPP, Medical, ADAP, ACA, and Covered CA Benefits

Come learn the intricacies, qualifications and benefits available in California and how to apply.

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER:
Francisco Valdes

Francisco holds a BA in Sciences of Communication. 22 years of experience working in the HIV / AIDS field with focus in vulnerable populations. Roles include Testing and Linkage to Care, Case Management, Treatment Adherence Education, Public Benefits and Supervisor. Currently Project Coordinator of Peer Linkage and Re-engagement of Women of Color with HIV at UCLA and is Bilingual English / Spanish

February 2, 2024

HIV Update 2024 What should we be talking about?

Join us for a high level overview of HIV as we begin 2024. The presentation will be an interactive discussion lead by Joseph Leahy and will address some of the concerns and focus of the HIV Community today.

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER:
Joseph Leahy

HIV Community Advocate. Joseph began his career as a volunteer in New York City in the early days of the AIDS epidemic. For the past 17 years he worked for Johnson & Johnson as an HIV Community Liaison supporting the efforts of HIV Clinics and AIDS Service Organizations throughout Southern California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah and Hawaii. He has served three times on the host committee for the U.S. Conference on HIV and AIDS and is particularly proud of his cameo role as the pediatrician, Dr. Marco Morez in season 2 of the groundbreaking HIV series Sin Verguenza. He has been honored with numerous awards for his service to the HIV Community including the 2018 National/Global Leadership Award from the LA County Women’s HIV/AIDS Task Force and the Guardian Angel Award from The Life Group LA in 2007.

November 17, 2023

Understanding your Medicare Annual Enrollment Choices

If you are new to Medicare or need help understanding your Medicare Annual Enrollment choices, this webinar is for you.

What you will learn:

• The Four Parts of Medicare A, B, C, and D
• When/How to Enroll in Medicare Part A and B
• Original Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage
• The Difference Between an HMO, PPO, and Medicare Supplement
• Medicare Supplement – Medical Underwriting Holiday
• ADAP and Other Available Programs for Those Living with HIV

Produced by Life Group LA
In collaboration with
BEING ALIVE!

PRESENTERS:
Giulio Campanelli
Life Health Insurance Advocate

Becky Hardin
Being Alive LA

June 16, 2023

Understanding
Gender Identity, Sexual Identity,
and HIV

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER:
Joseph Leahy
Sr. Community Liaison, Janssen Infectious Diseases

Joseph began his work in the HIV community in 1986 in New York City. He has served three times on the host committee for the U.S. Conference on AIDS and was honored with the 2018 National/Global Leadership Award from the LA County Women’s HIV/AIDS Task Force. In his current role for Janssen he supports the efforts of HIV Clinics and AIDS Service Organizations throughout Southern California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah and Hawaii. Joseph is particularly proud of his cameo role as the pediatrician, Dr. Marco Morez in season 2 of the groundbreaking series Sin Verguenza. He is the recipient of a 2007 Guardian Angel Award from the Life Group L.A. for outstanding service and dedication to the HIV Community.

March 17, 2023

The Science Of Happiness: Why Complaining is Literally Toxic to Your Health.

According to the brain science of happiness, complaining excessively can inhibit our ability to be positive, decrease capacity to experience joy and happiness in life. Anger, antagonism, resentment and other negative reactions, are weakening our immune systems by raising blood pressure, increasing risk of heart disease, obesity and diabetes, and other harmful ailments.

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER:
Damon L. Jacobs
LMFT

Damon L. Jacobs is a New York-based Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and HIV prevention specialist who focuses his work on sexual wellness, joyful relationships, mental health, harm-reduction. He is the author of two books titled, “Absolutely Should-less” and “Rational Relating.” He is best known for championing the use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in The New York Times, USA Today, MSNBC, NPR, Vice News, and more. He was honored to receive a Commissioner Special Recognition Award for his work through the New York State Department of Health in 2016.

January 20, 2023

— New Year, New Beginnings —

One Little Word

It’s about setting intentions to live into rather than making resolutions to “fix” ourselves.

Grab some paper, pencils, colored pencils, markers and join us for an enlightening session!

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER:
Kelly Darke
ATR-BC, M.Ed., BFA

Kelly is a registered art therapist that uses art and mindfulness as a tool for reducing stress and utilizes creative exercises that are designed to develop self-awareness and facilitate personal growth. It is Kelly’s hope that by incorporating these exercises into your self-care routine you will help improve your overall wellbeing. She firmly believes that these creative exercises are designed to help you develop self-awareness and facilitate personal growth. Become part of a supportive and empowering community that lifts you and others up in a safe, creative, and empathetic atmosphere. “Together we can build a powerful community where we all learn to develop and grow into being our best selves.” Art therapist and owner of Mindful Art Center: MindfulArtCenter.com

December 9, 2022

What You Don’t Know About Social Security Can Cost You BIG TIME

You have more control over your retirement than you may think—come learn why that is and how you can best capitalize on it. Whether you’re already collecting Social Security, will be soon, or it’s still a decade or two ahead—it’s worth your while to get informed. You don’t know what you don’t know—and having a smart plan in place could be worth tens of thousands of dollars to you—or even more.

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER:
Steve Garfink

Social Security expert Steve Garfink has more than 40 years’ work experience in finance, strategic planning, and general management, which provides him with particular expertise in presenting financial concepts to the general public and in financial modeling. In addition, he holds a National Social Security Advisor Certificate, and is CSSCS Certified in Social Security Claiming Strategies. He’s a published author of the book, “Social Security Secrets. How to Maximize Your Income for a Worry-Free Retirement” and “Retire in Luxury on Your Social Security.” Steve speaks regularly about smart Social Security strategies at International Living’s conferences and with financial planners, helping them to better serve their clients. He’s helped hundreds of people understand the options available and to maximize the Social Security income they have coming.

October 14, 2022

HIV and Long Covid

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER:
Dr. Michael Peluso
MD, MPhil, MHS, DTM&H

Dr. Peluso is an infectious disease physician and researcher in the Division of HIV, Infectious Diseases, and Global Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. His long-term focus has been on the chronic sequelae of HIV infection, including HIV-associated inflammation, the HIV reservoir, and implementation of clinical trials for HIV cure. When the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic emerged, Dr. Peluso led the efforts to rapidly implement a COVID-19 recovery cohort at San Francisco General Hospital, based on the hypothesis that the acute infection could have a long-term impact on the health and well-being of those who recovered (Long-term Impact of Infection with Novel Coronavirus [LIINC]). He now leads a number of clinical and translational projects related to these issues, with a particular focus on immunologic changes that occur following infection with SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 recovery in people living with HIV, and the mechanistic evaluation of Long COVID.

September 23, 2022

Tenant Rights

Many important topics will be covered including emotional support animals, source of income discrimination, live-in caregivers and other Fair Housing rights, along with security deposit returns, landlord harassment and habitability concerns.

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER:
Stephen Hicklin

Stephen (Steve) T. Hicklin graduated from California State University, Fullerton in 1985 with a degree in Political Science. From Cal State Fullerton, Steve entered the University of California, Davis School of Law and graduated from King Hall in 1988. While in law school, Steve represented U.C. Davis in the American Bar Assoc.'s Moot Court competition where he was a regional semi-finalist. He also externed for the Hon. Milton Schwartz, United States District Court, E.D. CA.

On graduation from law school, Steve took and passed the California Bar Examination and began work at Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison's Los Angeles office. After three years with Brobeck, Phleger, Steve joined Stroock & Stroock & Lavan and, in 1993, left to become in-house litigation counsel for Glendale Federal Bank, F.S.B. Steve stayed at Glendale Fed until 1998, when it was acquired by Citibank, and then joined WMC Mortgage Corp. as managing litigation counsel. When WMC Mortgage faltered, Steve spent three years in Northern California. On his return to Southern California in 2003, Steve joined Countrywide Home Loans as Litigation Counsel but was recruited by a former WMC colleague to join ReconTrust, N.A., Countrywide's foreclosure trustee as Compliance Manager. After Bank of America's acquisition of Countrywide, Steve was elevated to the position as ReconTrust's Chief Compliance Officer. All in all, Steve spent almost eight years at Countrywide/Bank of America until he left to move to Orange County. In 2010, Steve joined Wright, Finlay & Zak as Senior Counsel, a position he held until a former ReconTrust colleague recruited Steve to be General Counsel for Northwest Trustee Services and its related business lines. When Northwest Trustee Services downsized in 2014, Steve joined Buckley Madole as Senior Counsel, managing its Long Beach office. Steve opened The Hicklin Firm in 2018.

In addition to Steve's 30+ years of experience as a California lawyer, Steve was admitted to the Texas State Bar in 2007 and the Washington State Bar in 2015. Steve maintains active status and is authorized to practice in all three states.

Visit Stephen's website: thehicklinfirm.com

August 26, 2022

Cell and Gene Therapy for
HIV Cure

Learn the most up to date information on Cell and Gene Therapy research towards a cure for HIV.

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER:
James L. Riley, Ph.D.

James L. Riley, PhD, is a Professor of Microbiology at the University of Pennsylvania. His lab studies the cell biology and therapeutic use of primary human T cells. His lab has developed and is developing several T cell-based therapies to treat HIV, cancer and autoimmune diseases. He is currently leading two large, bench to bedside consortiums of investigators to develop improved T cells to help enable an HIV cure. Dr. Riley graduated from Vanderbilt University with a BS in Molecular Biology, studying Dictyostelium discoideum, and subsequently earned his PhD from Emory University in Dr. Jeremy Boss’ laboratory, studying the gene regulation of MHC class II genes. As an officer in the US Army, he received postdoctoral training in Dr. Carl June’s laboratory, where he developed an interested in T cell signaling pathways and therapeutic uses of primary human T cells.

August 19, 2022

The Role of Microbiome in HIV Cure Research

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER:
Dr. Nichole Klatt

Dr. Nichole (Nikki) Klatt is a Professor and the Director of the Division of Surgical Outcomes and Precision Medicine Research in the Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota. Prior to this she was an associate professor, vice chair of research, and the Adrienne Arsht Endowed Chair in Pediatric clinical research in the Department of Pediatrics, Miller School of Medicine, and Sylvester Cancer Center of University of Miami from 2018-2020. Dr. Klatt was also an associate professor in the Department of Pharmaceutics at the University of Washington from 2012- 2018. Dr. Klatt received her PhD from Emory University in Immunology and Molecular Pathogenesis in 2009, and was also a visiting PhD candidate at the University of Pennsylvania from 2006-2008. Dr. Klatt performed her postdoctoral research in the Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology at the National Institutes of Health from 2009-2012. The goal of Dr. Klatt’s research laboratory is to understand mechanisms of microbiome, mucosal dysfunction and drug metabolism to improve human health.

Visit Dr. Nichole Klatt's website
www.klatt-lab.com

June 17, 2022

Confident Discussions

We will discuss the Importance of Remaining in Care, and the once a day, HIV treatment Symtuza.

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER:
Steven Santiago, MD, FAAFP
Chief Medical Officer, Care Resource Community Health Center, Miami, FL; Consultant and speaker for Janssen Therapeutics, Division of Janssen Products, LP

Steven Santiago received his Bachelor of Science degree at City College in New York and his MD from the State University of New York at Stony Brook Medical School.

He completed his residency in Family Practice at the University of Medicine & Dentistry at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick, New Jersey. He became Board Certified in Family Practice in 1994 and was appointed as a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians in 1998.

He directed the research program at Care Resource and functioned as principal investigator for numerous pharmaceutical and government-sponsored HIV-related clinical trials. From 2003 to 2014, Dr. Santiago held the position of Medical Director and since, has been appointed as the Chief Medical Officer.

Dr. Santiago has been an active member of the HIV education community, speaking frequently on numerous topics to patient groups and physicians and allied health professionals.

May 20, 2022

Understanding Alzheimer's and Dementia

Learn about detection, causes, risk factors, stages and treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease.

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER:
Dr Michael Kertzner, MD
Since receiving his BS in Chemistry and Materials Science at UCLA, and his MD at Tufts University of Medicine, Michael has worked to develop medical technologies and been involved in geriatric research, including studies evaluating imaging in neurodegenerative disease. He began coding in the course of his research and writes programs for projects in line with his medical interests. In his free time, he enjoys literature and the outdoors, especially cycling and hiking.

May 13, 2022

High-Intensity Exercise Study in Older Adults With HIV

Physical exercise is an important nonpharmacological strategy to counterbalance both the adverse effects of ART and chronic HIV infection. High-intensity interval exercise training (HIIT) is safe and to has can have superior efficacy in improving health outcomes compared to continuous moderate exercise (CME) in those with chronic illnesses.

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER:
Allison Webel, RN, PhD (she/her)
Dr. Webel is a Professor of Nursing and the Associate Dean for Research at the University of Washington School of Nursing. She received her BSN and BA at the Ohio State University, her MSN and PhD at the University of California, San Francisco and her Postdoctoral fellowship at Case Western Reserve University. Her clinical research laboratory healthy aging in people living with HIV, with an emphasis on nonpharmacological strategies. Her work is been funded by the National Institute for Nursing Research, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institute of Aging, American Heart Association, and American Nurses Foundation. She is currently Deputy Editor at the Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care.

To learn more about her team’s work, please check out her Lab Website at: webelresearchlab.nursing.uw.edu

May 6, 2022

HIV and COVID: Intersections and Therapeutic Implications

An exploration of the underlying pathology of HIV and SARS-CoV-2 and Long COVID. Overlaps and differences in treatment and management. What are the similarities and differences in the way each virus causes disease? And how might that influence treatment outcomes?

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER:
George M. Carter
George M. Carter is the founder/director of the Foundation for Integrative AIDS Research (FIAR) and an AIDS and health activist for over 30 years. He joined ACT UP/NY in 1989 and has worked for the buyers’ clubs, Direct AIDS Alternative Information Resources (DAAIR) and ran the New York Buyers’ Club (NYBC). His work with FIAR had him teaming up with researchers at Mount Sinai where they obtained 3 NIH grants. In the last grant, the team undertook meta-analyses of “complementary and alternative medicine” (CAM) treatment questions in the management of HIV and medication side effects, including a systematic review of probiotics.

April 29, 2022

Impact of Cannabis use on Inflammation in People Living
with HIV

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER:
Jennifer A. Manuzak, PhD
Assistant Professor, Division of Immunology Tulane National Research Center
Currently an Assistant Professor at the Tulane National Research Center in the Division of Immunology. She received her PhD from the University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, followed by post-doctoral training at the Institute Cochin, Paris and as a Senior Fellow at the University of Washington and Washington National Research Center. Dr. Manuzak researches the effects of cannabis use on inflammation, immunity and microbial dysbiosis in HIV infection. She seeks to understand the effects of cannabis use on indicators of inflammation and immune activation in people living with HIV (PLWH) on antiretroviral therapy (ART) in regards to frequency, phenotype and cytokine-producing capacity of innate and adaptive immune cells. Additionally, she reviews the effects of cannabis use on plasma markers of microbial translocation, gastrointestinal barrier dysfunction and inflammation in PLWH. She conducted this presentation at “the Inaugural Symposium on Cannabis and People Living with HIV: At the Crossroads Between Neuropsychology and Inflammation.” On April 5, 2019, it took place at the MUHC Glen site Research Institute. The CIHR Canadian HIV Trials Network (CTN) has, since 1990, been supporting a thriving community of researchers, people living with HIV and their caregivers, health advocates, and pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to generate knowledge about prevention, treatment, management, and a cure for HIV/AIDS and other blood-borne and sexually transmitted infections.

April 22, 2022

The Weight of Stress on Our Health

It often seems like talk of stress is everywhere. But what exactly is it and how can it affect our mental and physical health? And—importantly—what are some strategies that we can use to deal with stress? In this webinar, Dr. Jennifer Sumner, a clinical psychologist and Assistant Professor at UCLA, will address all these topics and answer your questions related to stress and health. Attendees will learn how to define stress as well as trauma, recognize ways in which these experiences can impact our mind and body, and cultivate techniques for managing stress.

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER:
Dr Jennifer Sumner
Dr. Jennifer Sumner is a clinical psychologist and Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). She is the Director of the Sumner Stress Lab at UCLA, and her program of research lies at the intersection of the psychological and physical health consequences of trauma exposure. The work of the Sumner Stress Lab examines how experiences of trauma and severe stress relate to accelerated aging and risk for chronic disease, with a particular focus on cardiovascular disease—the leading cause of death and disability worldwide. The goal of this research is to delineate the pathways by which trauma and severe stress get embedded under the skin to contribute to poor health and to use this information to develop targeted interventions to offset risk for adverse health outcomes after trauma. Dr. Sumner received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Pomona College and her Masters and PhD in Clinical Psychology from Northwestern University. She completed her predoctoral internship program at the Charleston Consortium (Traumatic Stress Track) and received postdoctoral training as an Epidemiology Merit Fellow at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. Prior to joining UCLA, Dr. Sumner was an Assistant Professor of Behavioral Medicine at the Center for Behavioral Cardiovascular Health at Columbia University Medical Center. 

https://sumnerstresslab.psych.ucla.edu/ 

April 8, 2022

Providing a Holistic Status Neutral Approach Across the HIV Care Continuum

Produced by Life Group LA

In collaboration with Gilead

PRESENTER:
Carlos Catano Rios
Community Liaison at Gilead Sciences

April 1, 2022

Gratitude Explosion
through Art

Research has shown that practicing gratitude for things in our lives improves our overall wellbeing. During this session we will focus on the simple, everyday experiences that make our life enjoyable. We will create artwork to illustrate the things we are grateful for as a visual reminder and a way to reinforce our gratitude practice.

Suggested supplies: Fun stickers, Color pens and or colored pencils, black marker, paper.

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER:
Kelly Darke,
ATR, M.Ed., BFA
Kelly is a registered art therapist that uses art and mindfulness as a tool for reducing stress and utilizes creative exercises that are designed to develop self-awareness and facilitate personal growth. It is Kelly's hope that by incorporating these exercises into your self-care routine you will help improve your overall wellbeing. She firmly believes that these creative exercises are designed to help you develop self-awareness and facilitate personal growth. Become part of a supportive and empowering community that lifts you and others up in a safe, creative, and empathetic atmosphere. “Together you can build a powerful community where we all learn to develop and grow into being our best selves.” Art therapist and owner of Mindful Art Center

www.MindfulArtCenter.com

March 18, 2022

Cure Headlines
from CROI 2022

Exciting news from the 2022 Conference on Retroviruses & Opportunistic Infections (CROI). Let’s discuss and ask questions.

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER:
Michael Louella
Based in Seattle, WA, Michael Louella has worked in HIV clinical research for 22 years. He currently works for the University of Washington AIDS Clinical Trials Unit and for the Jerome Lab as their Community Engagement Project Manager, as well as a Community Liaison for the Office of Community Engagement (OCE) of the UW/Fred Hutch Center for AIDS Research. He has produced and collaborated on many local, national and international community events about HIV cure. He has organized community town halls, webinars and Q&A sessions, facilitating community access to some of the world’s leading HIV scientists, including two Nobel laureates, as well as with participants in cure-related research studies. He also serves on the Steering Committee of the Reunion Project, which creates national events specifically for long-term survivors of HIV. A former high school teacher, Michael is passionate about helping people living with HIV understand the complexities that fuel the research toward a cure; about strengthening the bidirectional relationships between researchers and community; and about discovering the ways social media might be used by clinical researchers to better connect people to their science.

March 4, 2022

Healing Rhythm
Drum Circle

Come together and share your spirit by rhythmically joining our Online Drum Circle. Feel empowered and connected with each other in the act of celebrating community and life through rhythm and music. Simply grab a drum, a pot or pan or any percussion instrument and cut loose!

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER:
Giorgia Vanessa Colombo
Giorgia is a rhythm & drum circle facilitator for community and wellness in-person and online, musician (frame drums, handpan, harp and pentatonic flute, vocals), dancer, creative. Village Music Circles Graduate.

My mission is to bridge the gap between music and “non-musicians” to bring back the gifts of in-the-moment music-making to everyone. In the last 10 years, I have facilitated spontaneous music events with percussions, pentatonic instruments and, vocals for people with no musical experience. In 2020 I graduated with VMC to focus on rhythm facilitation. I currently facilitate both in-person and online for community, children, well elderly and, wellness.

February 25, 2022

A third person has been “Cured” of HIV
Miracle or Science?

Produced by Life Group LA

In collaboration with

PRESENTER:
Dr. Christina Madison
PharmD, FCCP, AAHIVP
Dr. Christina Madison is the Founder and CEO of The Public Health Pharmacist™, PLLC a public health consulting firm. She is a clinical pharmacist specializing in public health with a focus on infectious communicable diseases. As a past President of the Nevada Public Health Association, she has been asked to share her clinical public health and infectious disease expertise with Local, State, and International Media outlets and NGO’s.

Dr. Madison has been featured in over 200+ on-air TV appearances since January 2020 related to the pandemic and public health. She has an intimate knowledge of the impact public health messaging, policy, and legislation can have on communities.

A trusted and valued health care professional with 14 years of experience in Public Health and 17 year’s experience as a pharmacy professional. An advocate for victims of human trafficking, vulnerable populations, and the underserved; Dr. Madison is a graduate of the 2021 Las Vegas FBI Citizens Academy. She has received multiple awards and recognitions including being named 50 Most Influential Pharmacy Leaders (Top 10) by the Pharmacy Podcast Network for 2021, National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) Southern Nevada Chapter Women of Distinction Finalist (Health Category), Nevada State Board of Pharmacy Challenge Coin Recipient Awarded for Exemplary Efforts During COVID-19 Pandemic Response, 2021 Greatest Medical Minds by Real Vegas Magazine, 2020 Educator Healthcare Hero by Nevada Business Magazine recognizing unsung heroes in the healthcare working on the frontline (featured in September 2020 issue), Pharmacy Times® and Parata Systems 2020 Next-Generation Pharmacist Honoree (Civic Leader Category), named one of the Top 25 Healthcare Influencers by Las Vegas Entrepreneurs Magazine in June 2020, and Pharmacy Times® “Pharmacy Hero” in May 2020 for her patient education and pharmacy advocacy during COVID19. 

She has also been recognized for her patient counseling skills and public health/vaccine advocacy. Dr. Madison is currently an Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice with Roseman University of Health Sciences (RU), College of Pharmacy. She maintains two active clinical practices with Huntridge Family Clinic, which focuses on the LGTBQ community and is one of the largest providers of HIV prevention and gender affirming care services in the State of Nevada as well as Volunteers in Medicine of Southern Nevada (VMSN) where she offers immunization and communicable disease care. Dr. Madison is past director of Roseman University of Health Sciences COVID-19 Vaccine Operations, Logistics, Distribution, and Administration as well as the Point of Contact for the State of Nevada for COVID vaccines. She has personally facilitated the administration of over 11,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine in the Southern Nevada community since January 2021. Advocating for public health and the profession of pharmacy to improve the health and wellness of vulnerable populations and the underserved is her passion and mission. www.thepublichealthpharmacist.com

February 18, 2022

Lose The Should
To Get The Good

Finding Peace And Purpose Beyond The Pandemic

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER:
Damon L. Jacobs
LMFT
Damon L. Jacobs is a New York-based Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and HIV prevention specialist who focuses his work on sexual wellness, joyful relationships, mental health,  harm-reduction.  He is the author of two books titled, "Absolutely Should-less" and "Rational Relating."  He is best known for championing the use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in The New York Times, USA Today, MSNBC, NPR, Vice News, and more.  He was honored to receive a Commissioner Special Recognition Award for his work through the New York State Department of Health in 2016.

February 11, 2022

12 Culinary Herbs
for Restoration

The Apothecary in Your Spice Cabinet and Crisper Drawer

Produced by Life Group LA

In collaboration with

PRESENTER:
Chris Dalziel
Chris Dalziel is the founder of the popular websites, JoybileeFarm.com and theDIYHerbal.com. Chris empowers her readers to grow their own food and medicine and preserve it so that they can confidently provide for their families. She is a grandmother, teacher, author, gardener, herbalist, and homesteader. She is the author of The Dehydrator Cookbook for Beginners (2022, Rockridge Press), The Beeswax Workshop (2017, Ulysses Press), and Homegrown Healing from Seed to Apothecary (2016, Joybilee Media) Chris believes in giving her readers a quick win, because each quick win builds confidence and empowers self-reliance. Chris and her husband live in the mountains of British Columbia with their three dogs and three cats.

February 4, 2022

Getting Stuff Done.
Time Management, Productivity and Prioritization

Do any of these phrases sound familiar? I don’t have time. I’ve run/I’m running out of time. I’m always late. I spend way too much time on this, and not enough on that. It is time to make time your friend! Our timely topics include: Seeing and feeling time. Imagined vs. Real: how long does it take to get things done? Prioritize: needs, wants, desires. Changing the way we do our day: some strategies for making the new friendship with time come alive!

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER:
Regina F. Lark, Ph.D.
Dr. Lark is the owner of A Clear Path: Professional Organizing and Productivity. As a Certified Professional Organizer she specializes in working with people with chronic disorganization, ADHD, and hoarding. She is also a relocation specialist, helping families and small businesses move or downsize from one home to the next. Dr. Lark is a featured speaker and educator on issues ranging from women’s leadership and mindset, time management and productivity. She is the author of Psychic Debris, Crowded Closets: The Relationship between the Stuff in your Head and What’s Under your Bed. In 2016, she was named one of LA’s Top 10 Organizers by CBS/KCAL Channel 2, and was awarded “Most Innovative Organizer” in 2013.

January 28, 2022

Communication and Confrontation: Being Heard in Tense Moments

Many people would say that they are not good at confrontations. So we tend to put them off and squish our feelings until they blow up, ending in angry shouting matches or silent retreats. Let’s learn the strategies around how to have constructive confrontations and how to feel more confident about saying what we need when it matters most.

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER:
Brian Adams
Brian Adams teaches psychology at community colleges in Los Angeles and Orange Counties and volunteers as an emotional support group facilitator for the Life Group LA In addition to training new facilitators, Brian has driven our continuing education sessions and has presented educational modules for LA Shanti and the Life Group LA for almost 20 years. A native of Southern California, Brian aspires to become a haberdasher and world renowned balloon artist.

January 21, 2022

Please Release It,
Let It Go.

Embrace what you need and let go of what you don’t to live a happier healthier life.

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER:
Sheena Metal
Sheena Metal is a psychic/medium, spiritual counselor, intuitive and emotional empath, who specializes in personal vibrational motivation, soul enlightenment and energetic healing. She is also an interfaith minster, (who is a staff pastor at FoundersMCC.org), a teacher and a motivational speaker. A 26 year talk radio veteran, Sheena is the host of the “Sheena Metal Experience” radio show, the paranormal/spiritual “Haunted Playground” and two other programs for LA Talk Radio. She is also the founder of RaisingTheVibration.org, a non-profit peace, love, kindness and unity movement.

SheenaMetalSpiritual.com  RaisingTheVibration.org @Sheena Metal [Facebook/Instagram/TikTok/YouTube/Twitter]

Jan. 14, 2022

DRUGS AND BEYOND
Managing HIV, Gut and Body Health

Come learn about the evidence using “alternative and complementary” interventions such as probiotics and more for managing aspects of HIV disease and medication side effects and how to access them..

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER:
George M. Carter
George M. Carter is the founder/director of the Foundation for Integrative AIDS Research (FIAR) and an AIDS and health activist for over 30 years. He joined ACT UP/NY in 1989 and has worked for the buyers’ clubs, Direct AIDS Alternative Information Resources (DAAIR) and ran the New York Buyers’ Club (NYBC). His work with FIAR had him teaming up with researchers at Mount Sinai where they obtained 3 NIH grants. In the last grant, the team undertook meta-analyses of “complementary and alternative medicine” (CAM) treatment questions in the management of HIV and medication side effects, including a systematic review of probiotics.

Dec. 3, 2021

Produced by Life Group LA

Please join us as we begin to close out the year of our weekly Zoom Seminars with some fun and lighthearted games!

We are truly grateful for your attendance and support during 2021! It’s been a challenging year for us all, and making this transition to online events keeping us connected and supported could not have happened with you!

The Friday Zooms will continue until we can meet again in person!

Much Love,
Sunnie, Our Volunteers, Presenters, and Board of Directors.

Nov. 19, 2021

Hope for the Holidays:

Creating Your Own Holiday Magic

Here come the Holidays. Even during the best of times, the winter holidays can be a confusing mix of magical wonder and emotional overwhelm with the usual family gatherings, special meals, and gift giving. As joyful as the holiday season can be, it is easy to get caught up in the pressure of others’ ideas and expectations of what the perfect holiday should be and you could quickly find yourself feeling overwhelmed, unhappy, and wondering how you got sucked into the same old stressful story, AGAIN.

In a fun and festive conversation you will learn tools to manage the stressors and challenges of the holidays, how to say NO in a kind way when you need to and mean it, and be able to breathe and enjoy the holidays on your own terms. You will be given tools to relieve stress, take your emotional temperature, explore how to set clear boundaries and STICK TO THEM, learn how holiday stress affects the body, ceate a plan for how to manage stress not just for the holidays but also into the New Year.

This year take control of your holidays and celebrate the joy of the season with laughter and joy in your heart.

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER:
John Sovec
MA, LMFT
John Sovec is an author, public speaker in corporate, educational and non-profit sectors and therapist in private practice in Pasadena California who works with clients on career transitions, goal setting, and motivation. He is the clinical consultant for the Life Group LA , adjunct faculty at Phillips Graduate Institute and guest lecturer at Alliant University and USC School of Social Work. John is currently a member of the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. His work has been featured on The Riki Lake Show, OWN, Bravo, FOX, The Advocate, YHTV, LA Talk Radio, Broad Topics and regular columns for Huffington Post and Good Therapy.

November 12, 2021

HIV Legal Needs Assessment

A Consumer Discussion on Legal Needs and Barriers to Service. This Legal Needs Assessment study is a community wide initiative and participation is easy. The session will be followed by a request to complete an online survey. Participants will received a $25 VISA gift card for discussion group participation and another $15 when you complete the survey. In this group setting, participants can expect to be asked questions about, their demographic background (e.g., age, race/ethnicity) and the agencies they receive services from, the types of legal issues and problems they have faced and any barriers to services, if any, you experienced in accessing legal assistance.

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER:
Laurie E. Aronoff
Laurie E. Aronoff has served as the Project Director of the Los Angeles County Bar Association’s AIDS Legal Services Project for nearly 30 years where she works with a wide number of stakeholders, AIDS service organizations and community health clinics on long term strategic planning and program implementation to deliver millions of dollars’ worth of pro bono legal services to low-income people living with HIV and AIDS on complex legal issues.  Aronoff oversees a volunteer network of over 400 lawyers and other advocates and develops recruitment, training and educational workshops, recognition events, and legal conferences to further HIV legal services for those who cannot afford to pay. 

Aronoff has served on a number of community and legal advisory committees including the HIV Legal Caucus for the Los Angeles Office of AIDS Program and Policies, the United Way North East Valley Needs Assessment Group, and the National Women & HIV Conference Organizing Committee. She has written articles on pro bono legal services for the Los Angeles Daily Journal and LA Lawyer magazine, is a founding member of the Southern California Pro Bono Manager’s Group and a Recipient of the “Spirit of Hope” Award from Being Alive, “Public Service” recognition award from Southwestern Law School and the “Community Service” Award from the Los Angeles Lesbian & Gay Lawyers Association.  Aronoff has made numerous presentations before legal, HIV and social service organizations including the American Bar Association, State Bar Continuing Legal Education conferences, Shelter Partnership, Los Angeles Women & HIV Conference and the One Justice Southern California Pro Bono Conference.      

A graduate of UCLA with a degree in History, Aronoff previously worked as an Analyst on hunger and homeless issues for the City of Los Angeles after a relatively brief career as a corporate executive at an insurance company.

October 29, 2021

There Is Nothing To Fear But Fear Itself

As we travel, along our life path, one of the biggest roadblocks we encounter, is fear. It is one of the most crippling emotions in anyone’s existence. Learn to release and eliminate this worry/anxiety, from your life, and be free.

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER:
Sheena Metal
Sheena Metal is a psychic/medium, spiritual counselor, intuitive and emotional empath, who specializes in personal vibrational motivation, soul enlightenment and energetic healing. She is also an interfaith minster, (who is a staff pastor at FoundersMCC.org), a teacher and a motivational speaker. A 26 year talk radio veteran, Sheena is the host of the “Sheena Metal Experience” radio show, the paranormal/spiritual “Haunted Playground” and two other programs for LA Talk Radio. She is also the founder of RaisingTheVibration.org, a non-profit peace, love, kindness and unity movement.

SheenaMetalSpiritual.com  RaisingTheVibration.org @Sheena Metal [Facebook/Instagram/TikTok/YouTube/Twitter]

October 22, 2021

How Do Supplements and Medications Interact?

Come learn about the important contraindications and science.

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER:
Nelson Vergel
Nelson Vergel is a 37-year HIV survivor, health author, speaker and leading advocate for improved access to life-saving options for people living with HIV He holds a chemical engineering degree from McGill University in Montreal and an MBA from the University of Houston. He is the founder of the non-profits Program for Wellness Restoration and The Body Positive Wellness Center. He is also an expert on TheBody.com on aging with HIV, lipodystrophy, hormone deficiencies and multidrug resistance. He is a co-founder of the AIDS Treatment Activist Coalition (ATAC) and successfully led efforts to convince the FDA and pharmaceutical companies to enable HIV+ people with limited treatment options to simultaneously access multiple investigational agents. He served as a member of the DHHS HIV Adult Guidelines Committee for 4 years with a special focus on treatment of advanced patients and side effect management. He is now focused on advocating for research options for the immunological non-responder population whose CD4 cell count has not normalized after successful HIV viral control. He is the co-author of Built to Survive, and the author of Testosterone: A Man’s Guide and Beyond Testosterone.

October 8, 2021

HARD BELLY

Not all fat is the same. Some people with HIV are at risk for Hard Belly Fat. People with HIV can develop a different kind of fat that is hard, feels much firmer, and is difficult to pinch. This fat usually develops deeper within the abdomen. No matter what it’s called, hard belly is not regular fat; it requires a different type of conversation with your healthcare provider and may require a different approach to treatment.

Produced by Life Group LA

In collaboration with Theratechnologies

PRESENTER:
Marc Vincent
Western Region Community Medical Liaison for Theratechnologies

Marc Vincent is the Western Region Community Medical Liaison for Theratechnologies. He has 17+ years of healthcare/pharmaceutical industry and academic experience in virology (HIV, HCV, TB) and cardiology. His previous roles include Strategy Director of the HIV and Global Medicine Division at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) where he oversaw site operations of large clinical trials, strategic planning, fundraising and education programs in the US and Africa. He also launched and directed multi-media cardiovascular prevention programs for the UCSF Division of Cardiology. Marc was also Senior Community Liaison at Janssen/Johnson and Johnson and Senior Regional Director at the AIDS Healthcare Foundation. Prior to healthcare, Marc held senior roles in marketing at Nordstrom and Target Corporation. He is a former Board Member of the Academy of Friends and the San Francisco chapter of DIFFA: Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS; he is currently a Board Member of the Shanti Project.

Marc received two Bachelor’s Degrees from Stanford University in International Relations and Spanish and holds a Master’s Degree from Columbia University in Political Science.

September 24, 2021

HIV Prevention and Treatment Update

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER:
Eric Daar, MD
Dr. Daar, Investigator, The Lundquist Institute, Publisher, Interim Chair, Department of Medicine at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center

Chief, Division of HIV Medicine at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Professor of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. His research focuses on management and therapy for HIV infections, the immunopathogenesis and neuropathogenesis of primary and chronic HIV infection and the long-term complications patients face living with HIV and antiviral drugs. Additionally, he studies the area of HIV testing, linkage and retention of patients into care and prevention strategies as well as the management of HCV infection.

September 17, 2021

Reclaiming the Story: Finding the Queer Counter-Narrative
of the
Judeo-Christian Text

Listening to the loudest voices in the church today, it's no wonder that sexual minority people feel unwelcome in Christian religious communities. But mixed into the loud contemporary voices are the voices of the biblical prophets, storytellers, and poets. In their voices lie a queer counter-narrative that not only speaks for our inclusion in the religious story, but demands it.

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER:
Greg D. Kilpatrick, MSMFT
Greg is a licensed psychotherapist in Pasadena, Calif., where he has a specialty practice focused on helping LGBT+ folks and people of faith navigate sex, gender, and spirituality. 

Before entering the clinical sexology and therapy field, Greg worked for non-profit and religious organizations, including the YMCA, Forest Home Christian Camp, and the Presbyterian Church (USA) in youth and teen development. He received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology with a Minor in Religious Studies from Humboldt State University. While at Humboldt, he had the opportunity to study under several activist religious leaders, including environmentalist Rabbi Naomi Steinberg “The Redwood Rabbi”, of the Temple Beth El and Father Laurent Cleenewerck of St. Innocent Orthodox Church, a bioethics adviser to the United Nations.

He then attended Fuller Theological Seminary, one of the most progressive seminaries in the country at the time. There he earned his Master of Science in Marital and Family Therapy. Greg then completed a 20-month sex therapy internship where he worked under two prominent Christian sex therapists. He has since received hundreds of hours of training in secular clinical sexology. He has sat for thousands of hours of sex therapy sessions with LGBT+ folks and progressive people of faith. He is currently finishing certification as a Sex Therapist from the American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT) under the supervision of Dr. Tina Shemer Sellers and the Northwest Institute on Intimacy (NWIOI)

Visit Greg's website: gregorydkilpatrick.com

Video is Not Available for this Session Due to Internal DOR Guidelines

September 10, 2021

Employment, Independence and Equality

Mostly free, Student Services support you in exploring and preparing for the world of work. Services are based on your interests – you could try a bunch of activities, or just a few. The California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) works in partnership with the community to provide services and advocacy resulting in employment, independent living, and equality for individuals with disabilities.

Produced by Life Group LA

In collaboration with

California Department of Rehabilitation

The California Department of Rehabilitation works in partnership with consumers and other st3px;akeholders to provide services and advocacy resulting in employment, independent living, and equality for individuals with disabilities.

August 27, 2021

Research study: Help move toward twice-a-year injectable treatment for HIV positive individuals!

Phase Ib study evaluating the safety and efficacy of a long-acting regimen of Lencepravire administered every 6 months in adults with HIV-1 infection who are virologically suppressed on oral ART. The study provides compensation ($150 / visit plus $64 for travel) and top-of-the-line medical care. No insurance needed. All tests and study-related care provided for free. We’ll also discuss a treatment study for Highly Treatment Experienced (THE) individuals.

Produced by Life Group LA

In collaboration with Mills Clinical Research

PRESENTER:
Jeffery Williams, MPH
Jeffery Williams, MPH is the Program Manager for Research Operations & Community Engagement at MCR where he's worked for 3 years. He has worked in public health and research for 15+ years and has focused his career on addressing health inequities and social determinants of health in minority and LGBTQ communities.communities.

August 13, 2021

Mindful Eating: The Art of Presence While You Eat

Come learn how to encourage ourselves to gain awareness of our eating experiences.

Produced by Life Group LA

In collaboration with APLA

PRESENTER:
Janelle L’Heureux,
MS RDN
Janelle L’Heureux, MS RDN, has worked in HIV nutrition for 23 years. She was a member of the expert work group of the HIV/AIDS Evidence-based Nutrition Practice Guideline project for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. She currently works at APLA Health and provides direct service to clients.

August 6, 2021

Advance Planning

Protecting Yourselves and Loved Ones (Wills, Trusts, Power of Atty., Financial and Healthcare Directives)

Produced by Life Group LA

In collaboration with lacba.org

PRESENTER:
Michael Flattery
Attorney At Law
Michael has a J.D. from Southwestern University School of Law and a B.A. from University of California at Santa Barbara, has a private Beverly Hills practice with an emphasis on estate planning, probate, trust preparation and administration as well as and family law. Additional areas of practice include personal injury landlord/tenant, contracts, criminal defense, corporate formation including purchase and sale, worker's compensation, business litigation, limited Bankruptcy proceedings, limited labor board proceedings, and limited administrative law proceedings.

July 30, 2021

Upcoming Long Acting HIV Medications: New Hope for Advanced Patients

Come learn about the exciting new long acting medication era and new help for people with multi drug resistance!

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER:
Nelson Vergel
Nelson Vergel is a 37-year HIV survivor, health author, speaker and leading advocate for improved access to life-saving options for people living with HIV He holds a chemical engineering degree from McGill University in Montreal and an MBA from the University of Houston. He is the founder of the non-profits Program for Wellness Restoration and The Body Positive Wellness Center. He is also an expert on TheBody.com on aging with HIV, lipodystrophy, hormone deficiencies and multidrug resistance. He is a co-founder of the AIDS Treatment Activist Coalition (ATAC) and successfully led efforts to convince the FDA and pharmaceutical companies to enable HIV+ people with limited treatment options to simultaneously access multiple investigational agents. He served as a member of the DHHS HIV Adult Guidelines Committee for 4 years with a special focus on treatment of advanced patients and side effect management. He is now focused on advocating for research options for the immunological non-responder population whose CD4 cell count has not normalized after successful HIV viral control. He is the co-author of Built to Survive, and the author of Testosterone: A Man’s Guide and Beyond Testosterone.

July 23, 2021

Let's Groove!

Groove is a fun, easy, playful dance experience that anyone is able to enjoy. We unite within one move, but are unique in how we each dance that move. You are even welcome to Groove from a chair.

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER:
Nicole Black
Nicole has been facilitating movement and fitness practices for 12 years. Her passion for teaching movement was ignited by her first Nia teacher, who encouraged her to attend a Nia teacher training, and the rest is history. Since then, she's been teaching a variety of movement classes, including Nia, Zumba, Aqua Fitness, Yoga, and much more.

Due to the sensitive nature of the participant’s sharing during this particular presentation Life Group LA has chosen not to make this presentation public.

July 16, 2021

There is a Rainbow Inside of You

Inside of everyone there is a system of Chakras that help your energy to flow evenly and efficiently. In this workshop, Sheena will help you to identify each of these important energy centers and learn how to keep them properly balanced and void of toxins.

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER:
Sheena Metal
Sheena Metal is a psychic/medium, spiritual counselor, intuitive and emotional empath, who specializes in personal vibrational motivation, soul enlightenment and energetic healing. She is also an interfaith minster, (who is a staff pastor at FoundersMCC.org), a teacher and a motivational speaker. A 26 year talk radio veteran, Sheena is the host of the “Sheena Metal Experience” radio show, the paranormal/spiritual “Haunted Playground” and two other programs for LA Talk Radio. She is also the founder of RaisingTheVibration.org, a non-profit peace, love, kindness and unity movement.

SheenaMetalSpiritual.com  RaisingTheVibration.org @Sheena Metal [Facebook/Instagram/TikTok/YouTube/Twitter]

Due to the sensitive nature of the participant’s sharing during this particular presentation Life Group LA has chosen not to make this presentation public.

June 25, 2021

Put One Foot In
Front Of The Other

Stay the course. The Universe has designed a divine path, for your life…and all you have to do is keep walking forward.

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER:
Sheena Metal
Sheena Metal is a psychic/medium, spiritual counselor, intuitive and emotional empath, who specializes in personal vibrational motivation, soul enlightenment and energetic healing. She is also an interfaith minster, (who is a staff pastor at FoundersMCC.org), a teacher and a motivational speaker. A 26 year talk radio veteran, Sheena is the host of the “Sheena Metal Experience” radio show, the paranormal/spiritual “Haunted Playground” and two other programs for LA Talk Radio. She is also the founder of RaisingTheVibration.org, a non-profit peace, love, kindness and unity movement.

SheenaMetalSpiritual.com  RaisingTheVibration.org @Sheena Metal [Facebook/Instagram/TikTok/YouTube/Twitter]

June 18, 2021

Memory Loss and Caregiving in the LGBTQ Community

Aging with Pride: Innovations in Dementia Empowerment and Action (IDEA), will present information about memory loss and caregiving in the LGBTQ community and will be offering a free individual virtual coaching program designed to help those experiencing memory loss and their caregivers though their IDEA Program.

Produced by Life Group LA

In collaboration with Aging with Pride: IDEA

PRESENTER:
Amy Cunningham, MS
Amy Cunningham, MS., has been a Research Coordinator at the University of Washington in both the School of Nursing and School of Social Work for 25 years. She has coordinated over 20 studies in the School of Nursing’s Northwest Research Group on Aging. Those studies have explored behavioral interventions designed to assist older adults with a multitude of issues such as insomnia, osteoarthritis pain, menopause, caregiving, memory loss and dementia. Her current position is with the School of Social Work’s Aging with Pride IDEA Project which seeks to help adults with memory loss and their care partners in the LGBTQ community.

The Q & A session for this presentation has been edited out due to the personal nature of some of the participant questions.

June 4, 2021

FRAUD! Consumer Protection, Scams and ID Theft

An interactive conversation about spotting and protecting ourselves from common frauds and scams.

Produced by Life Group LA

In collaboration with AARP

PRESENTER:
Strat Maloma
Strat joined AARP in April 2002 and has since worked in several positions across the Association. In 2007 Strat joined the AARP California team as a Senior Operations Administrator and has since served California in an Operations, Communications and Community capacity. Strat currently serves on the AARP California Community team as a Senior Program Specialist, working out of the Pasadena, California office. In this role Strat works to develop and execute strategies and programs that provide educational content, tools and resources that help AARP audiences realize their real possibilities. As Community Senior Program Specialist, Strat acts as the California state lead for The AARP Fraud Watch Network, AARP California’s technology strategy and AARP Los Angele’s Veterans and Military Families work. Strat’s other work experience includes brand marketing and advertising with Pepsi-Frito-Lay and Nike, Inc. in South Africa. Strat currently holds a BS in Business Management form the University of South Africa; a Masters certificate in Project Management from the George Washington University. And a graduate degree in Communications, Marketing and New Media from the Southern New Hampshire university.

May 28, 2021

Create a Winning Resume for 2021

2021 is a time for growth, re-invention and for some, just getting back to work. Let Carlos guide you through some skills that will allow you to create the most updated, effective and attention getting resume.

Produced by Life Group LA

In collaboration with APLA Health

PRESENTER:
Carlos Gonzalez
Carlos is a Life Skills Specialist with APLA. He has 4 years’ experience working in Activity Therapy with seniors. Recently, his work has shifted in helping individuals trying to learn skills and gain tools to build stability in their life through financial, career, and health workshops.

May 21, 2021

You are Your Own Best Friend

You are not alone. Remember that when you walk your spiritual path, you are always accompanied by your best friend…you!!

Self-love is not selfish and learning to look out for #1, not only makes you more self-aware and self-protected, it makes you a better friend, lover, partner, family member and human being.

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER:
Sheena Metal
Sheena Metal is a psychic/medium, spiritual counselor, intuitive and emotional empath, who specializes in personal vibrational motivation, soul enlightenment and energetic healing. She is also an interfaith minster, (who is a staff pastor at FoundersMCC.org), a teacher and a motivational speaker. A 26 year talk radio veteran, Sheena is the host of the “Sheena Metal Experience” radio show, the paranormal/spiritual “Haunted Playground” and two other programs for LA Talk Radio. She is also the founder of RaisingTheVibration.org, a non-profit peace, love, kindness and unity movement.

SheenaMetalSpiritual.com  RaisingTheVibration.org @Sheena Metal [Facebook/Instagram/TikTok/YouTube/Twitter]

May 14, 2021

Aging, Sexual Health and STIs

Humor is essential, compassion, science and a loving playfulness are the ultimate recipe for defusing stigma. Dr. Park shows how defusing stigma can increase people’s willingness to take preventive medications or use preventive strategies; in this way, reducing stigma literally decreases risk.

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER:
Dr. Ina Park
Dr. Ina Park is an Associate Professor at the University of California San Francisco School of Medicine, Medical Director at the California Prevention Training Center and a Medical Consultant for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-Division of STD Prevention. She received her MD from the UCLA School of Medicine and MS in Clinical Research from the University of Minnesota-School of Public Health. Dr. Park was a co-author of the 2021 CDC STI Treatment Guidelines and a contributor to the first Federal STI Strategic Plan. She recently authored her first book: Strange Bedfellows: Adventures in the Science, History, and Surprising Secrets of STDs. Her writing has also appeared in The New York Times.

May 7, 2021

OLDER ADULTS:
Job Search after 50. Impact on the Economy and the Workforce

AARP created this workshop because we are committed to helping you achieve your employment goals, whether you’re making a career change out of choice or necessity. We will talk about how older adults impact the workforce and the economy, how AARP is fighting age-discrimination, how you can fight back on age discrimination and we’ll discuss tips for jump starting your job search.

Produced by Life Group LA

In collaboration with AARP

PRESENTER:
Adriana Mendoza, MSW, MAPP
Adriana Mendoza currently serves as Associate State Director for AARP California.  In this role, Adriana works to position AARP as a trusted resource and leader in local communities, as well as with elected officials, business leaders, and non-profit organizations.  Adriana also has statewide responsibilities in overseeing AARP California’s Hispanic/Latino community engagement strategy.  She has held various positions in the Association, including managing cross-functional teams of staff and volunteers tasked with building AARP’s relevance to members and multicultural communities through advocacy, community outreach, volunteer strategies, and brand awareness.

Before joining AARP in 2002, Adriana worked for former Congressman Esteban Torres in his district office.  She also worked for AltaMed Health Services Corporation, a leading national Latino health services organization in East Los Angeles.  With more than 20 years’ experience in gerontology and community organizing, Adriana specializes in diversity and aging issues, caregiving, long-term care, and multicultural outreach.

Adriana holds B.A. degrees in Spanish and in Public Policy & Administration from California State University, Bakersfield, as well as a Master’s degree from UCLA in Social Welfare and a Master’s degree in Public Policy from Claremont Graduate University.  She is also a graduate of the American Society on Aging’s New Ventures in Leadership program and alumna of the Geriatric Social Work Education Consortium.  Adriana has been a guest lecturer at the University of Guadalajara’s Department of Public Health in Jalisco, Mexico.  In addition, she is an honorary member of the College of Gerontology and Geriatrics in Jalisco, Mexico.  Adriana is currently pursuing a PhD in Political Science at Claremont Graduate University.  

Adriana has been featured in Latino Today’s “50 Most Influential Latinos on the Central Coast” (February 2006), Coastal Women Magazine’s “Women on the Move” (Spring 2006) and Latino Today’s “Young and Latin Face of AARP” (June 2005).  Adriana has also been the recipient of the Young Corporate Achievers Award from the Hispanic Association for Corporate Responsibility.  In 2017, she received the Mexican American Opportunity Foundation (MAOF) Community Aztec Award for her leadership in the advancement of the Latino community.

April 30, 2021

PREPARED TO CARE
Family and Friends Caregiving

Whether you are currently taking care of an older family member or getting ready to care for someone, this workshop is for you. An AARP representative will share with you resources that are designed to help develop and implement a caregiving plan for a loved one or friend. You will learn about resources that can help you navigate your caregiving journey. Some of the areas covered are: ways to assess your loved one’s needs, tips for organizing important documents and information on caring for yourself.

Produced by Life Group LA

In collaboration with AARP

PRESENTER:
Adriana Mendoza, MSW, MAPP
Adriana Mendoza currently serves as Associate State Director for AARP California.  In this role, Adriana works to position AARP as a trusted resource and leader in local communities, as well as with elected officials, business leaders, and non-profit organizations.  Adriana also has statewide responsibilities in overseeing AARP California’s Hispanic/Latino community engagement strategy.  She has held various positions in the Association, including managing cross-functional teams of staff and volunteers tasked with building AARP’s relevance to members and multicultural communities through advocacy, community outreach, volunteer strategies, and brand awareness.

Before joining AARP in 2002, Adriana worked for former Congressman Esteban Torres in his district office.  She also worked for AltaMed Health Services Corporation, a leading national Latino health services organization in East Los Angeles.  With more than 20 years’ experience in gerontology and community organizing, Adriana specializes in diversity and aging issues, caregiving, long-term care, and multicultural outreach.

Adriana holds B.A. degrees in Spanish and in Public Policy & Administration from California State University, Bakersfield, as well as a Master’s degree from UCLA in Social Welfare and a Master’s degree in Public Policy from Claremont Graduate University.  She is also a graduate of the American Society on Aging’s New Ventures in Leadership program and alumna of the Geriatric Social Work Education Consortium.  Adriana has been a guest lecturer at the University of Guadalajara’s Department of Public Health in Jalisco, Mexico.  In addition, she is an honorary member of the College of Gerontology and Geriatrics in Jalisco, Mexico.  Adriana is currently pursuing a PhD in Political Science at Claremont Graduate University.  

Adriana has been featured in Latino Today’s “50 Most Influential Latinos on the Central Coast” (February 2006), Coastal Women Magazine’s “Women on the Move” (Spring 2006) and Latino Today’s “Young and Latin Face of AARP” (June 2005).  Adriana has also been the recipient of the Young Corporate Achievers Award from the Hispanic Association for Corporate Responsibility.  In 2017, she received the Mexican American Opportunity Foundation (MAOF) Community Aztec Award for her leadership in the advancement of the Latino community.

April 23, 2021

Are Clinical Trials
For Everybody?

What You Need To Know About
Cutting-Edge Studies in HIV & COVID-19

UCLA Center for Clinical AIDS Research & Education’s study trials – How clinical research works and how you can get involved.

Produced by Life Group LA

In collaboration with UCLA Care Center

PRESENTER:
Freddy Favela
Mr. Favela joined the UCLA CARE Center in July 2020 as the Prevention Outreach Coordinator. Mr. Favela is actively pursuing a Master of Public Health with a concentration in Epidemiology from Azusa Pacific University. His passion for public health, health equity, and understanding how viral transmission disproportionately affects disadvantaged communities and people of color, has led him to clinical research.

Prior to the CARE Center, Freddy oversaw enrollment and recruitment for a state-funded program that provided free prostate cancer treatment for men who are of low-income and uninsured. He received his Bachelors of Science degree in Healthcare Administration from Azusa Pacific University.

More info: www.uclahealth.org/care-center

April 16, 2021

Staying in Balance in a Post Covid World

After living through over a year of COVID-19 related quarantine conditions, the long-term effects of staying at home both positive and negative are becoming apparent. Now that gyms, restaurants, and social time with friends are becoming a possibility there is a new transition taking place, stepping back out into the world. And as exciting as this moment is, it is also bringing up anxiety and stress over how to interact in a new world.

Let’s talk about ways to face this post Covid anxiety and how to best step back into the unknown in a manner that is compassionate to your body, mind, heart, and spirit. 

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER:
John Sovec, MA, LMFT
John Sovec is a therapist in private practice in Pasadena California who works with clients on career transitions, goal setting, and motivation. He is the clinical consultant for Life Group LA , adjunct faculty at Phillips Graduate Institute and guest lecturer at Alliant University and USC School of Social Work. John is currently a member of the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.

John Sovec is the author of multiple publications, speaks at conferences nationwide, and maintains a private practice. John is a respected trainer and presenter in the corporate, educational and non-profit sectors with almost thirty years experience. John has designed professional training models and seminars for the Walt Disney Company, Paramount Studios, Pandemic Studios, Electronic Arts, and Washington Mutual, His work has been featured on The Riki Lake Show, OWN, Bravo, FOX, The Advocate, YHTV, LA Talk Radio, Broad Topics and regular columns for Huffington Post and Good Therapy.

April 9, 2021

CBD and Botanicals

How can we use herbs to help us live our best lives? Join Integrative Health Pharmacist, Dr. Swathi Varanasi, as she presents information on the top eastern and western herbs that can provide us the relief we're looking for in these unpredictable times, as well as ways that we can incorporate them into our daily lives.

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER:
Dr. Swathi Varanasi
Dr. Swathi Varanasi, or Dr. Swathi for short, is an award-winning bilingual pharmacist specializing in integrative health and botanical medicine. She is a plant-based wellness expert; a medical consultant for CBD, adaptogen, and health food brands; a published clinical researcher; an advocacy non-profit board of director; a multimedia content contributor; and a matcha enthusiast. Emphasizing an innovative and evidence-based approach, Dr. Swathi is passionate about educating practitioners, students, and patients on natural medicines, and empowering everyone to be the best, most authentic version of themselves.

March 19, 2021

I Never Met a Crystal
I Didn’t Like

Help is on the way! Let psychic/medium Sheena Metal show you how crystals can aid your life and guide you on your spiritual journey, by learning to tap into their specific energetic resonance and potential.

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER:
Sheena Metal
Sheena Metal is a psychic/medium, spiritual counselor, intuitive and emotional empath, who specializes in personal vibrational motivation, soul enlightenment and energetic healing. She is also an interfaith minster, (who is a staff pastor at FoundersMCC.org), a teacher and a motivational speaker. A 26 year talk radio veteran, Sheena is the host of the “Sheena Metal Experience” radio show, the paranormal/spiritual “Haunted Playground” and two other programs for LA Talk Radio. She is also the founder of RaisingTheVibration.org, a non-profit peace, love, kindness and unity movement.

SheenaMetalSpiritual.com  RaisingTheVibration.org @Sheena Metal [Facebook/Instagram/TikTok/YouTube/Twitter]

March 12, 2021

Natures Medicine: Essential oils for
self-care and
immune support

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER:
Jessica Lotus Lourie, LICSW

NJessica is an aromatherapist and wellness coach and teaches people how to use essential oils for physical and emotional wellness. You can find her on Instagram at @lightandlotus.

March 5, 2021 - Noon - 2 PM (PST)

Aging Healthy with HIV Hormone Balance

Hormone Replacement Therapy for Men and Women: Myths and Realities. Nelson will provide key information about HRT from the patient point of view as he reviews facts and fiction surrounding this important subject.

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER:
Nelson Vergel

Nelson Vergel is a 37-year HIV survivor, health author, speaker and leading advocate for improved access to life-saving options for people living with HIV He holds a chemical engineering degree from McGill University in Montreal and an MBA from the University of Houston. He is the founder of the non-profits Program for Wellness Restoration and The Body Positive Wellness Center. He is also an expert on TheBody.com on aging with HIV, lipodystrophy, hormone deficiencies and multidrug resistance. He is a co-founder of the AIDS Treatment Activist Coalition (ATAC) and successfully led efforts to convince the FDA and pharmaceutical companies to enable HIV+ people with limited treatment options to simultaneously access multiple investigational agents. He served as a member of the DHHS HIV Adult Guidelines Committee for 4 years with a special focus on treatment of advanced patients and side effect management. He is now focused on advocating for research options for the immunological non-responder population whose CD4 cell count has not normalized after successful HIV viral control. He is the co-author of Built to Survive, and the author of Testosterone: A Man’s Guide and Beyond Testosterone.

February 26, 2021

HPV and Anal Cancer: the Bottom Line

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER:
Ardis Moe, M.D.
Sub-Investigator, HRA/IRC Operator of Associated Study Sites ANCHOR Study

Dr. Moe began her Infectious Diseases fellowship at UCLA and continued as an NIH-sponsored HIV Clinical Trials fellow, and then stayed on at UCLA as faculty in the Division of Infectious Diseases. She maintains a clinical practice at the CARE Center and also at a Ryan White-funded HIV clinic in Van Nuys: Northeast Valley Health Corporation. She has research interests in HIV dementia and complications of HIV and HIV treatments. Her hobbies include traveling and horseback riding.

WE NEED HIV+ VOLUNTEERS of all genders who are 35+ to take part in a paid study to prevent anal cancer.  
Go to: AnchorStudy.org/ucla-care

In collaboration with
   

February 19, 2021

Estate and Legacy Planning

• The best way to title assets to ensure that your family doesn’t get stuck in court if you become incapacitated or when you die
• How to ensure that the assets you leave to your children and loved ones are protected from creditors, divorce and even bankruptcy
• Common mistakes parents make when choosing a guardian and how to avoid them
• How to avoid a long and expensive court process known as probate
• How to protect your spouse and children’s inheritance from creditors, predators, future spouses, and lawsuits
• How to make your medical wishes known and ensure they are honored
• How to pass on more than just your assets, or money and leave a true legacy

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER:
Deanny Lungu-Underwood, Esq.

Deanny has about 20 years of experience as an attorney. She obtained her undergraduate degree in Business Economics from UCLA and her law degree from Southwestern School of Law. 

Deanny is passionate about educating the community on the importance of legal planning and helping families protect what is most important to them. 

Deanny is married, has 4 young children and lives with her family and her 2 dogs in Long Beach, California.

February 12, 2021

KINDNESS totally
ROCKS

Gather some supplies* and join us while we have some fun, get artsy, and be creative all while helping spread love and compassion.

*Suggested Supplies:  Flat rocks or any rocks of your choosing, Acrylic paint in a few colors, Small paint brushes or Paint pens, Sharpies, spray paint, Mod Podge and a Blow Dryer (optional)  Dollar Store has lots stuff and Amazon too!! (If you shop Amazon, please consider using this link that supports Life Group! smile.amazon.com/ch/26-0240301 )

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER:
Karen Amore-Mueller, Artist

Karen studied Ceramic Art & Sculpture at California State University, Northridge, is an artist, a Los Angeleno, married and a mom to two boys and a dog named Harry Houdini. She loves organic gardening and design of all kinds. Also, and active seeker of Justice and Equality for All.

February 5, 2021

Pronoun Positivities: Gender and Sexual Identity, Diversity and its Impact on HIV

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER:
Drïan Juarez
Global Consultant, Educator, Program Creator,
Award Winning Activist

Drïan Juarez is a global consultant on diversity and inclusion and is the Vice President of Programing for Trans Can Work. She works to build inclusive company cultures where gender diverse people can thrive. She has served as the Global Partnerships Manager for Grindr’s Grinder for Equality program where she promoted health, justice, and equality for the global LGBTQI community. She is the founder and former Program Manager of the LA LGBT Center’s Transgender Economic Empowerment Project (TEEP). Building a solid foundation for TEEP, Juarez established cross-organizational/ cross-functional teams to assist in the mission of developing substantive employment and business opportunities for the Los Angeles Transgender community. Under her direction, TEEP worked with thousands of Transgender and gender nonconforming people by assisting with basic housing and helping Transgender and gender nonconforming people move from the street economy to assisting with more complex job skills like resume writing and job searches for Transgender people who transitioned after establishing professional careers.

In her role, Juarez developed a coalition of grass-roots organizations to help meet the specific needs of the Transgender and gender nonconforming community. She has collaborated with homeless shelters to provide housing and basic living needs, coordinated with non-profits and schools to offer basic job training and has taught over 500 employers in law enforcement, government entities and businesses on the unique issues faced by the Transgender community.

Juarez, was a former member of the city of West Hollywood Transgender Advisory Board, got her start as a community organizer when she was hired as the Lead HIV Outreach Health Educator at a local Los Angeles non-profit agency. In that capacity, Juarez provided a myriad of services in the West Hollywood area to trans-women to help them move from the street economy to empowering career paths and job opportunities.

Through her work Juarez has not only developed a significant knowledge base of the resources required to help transgender and gender nonconforming people get back to work but also understands what it takes to build lasting relationships with the variety of community-based social service agencies and employers who support the Transgender and gender nonconforming community.

As a Latina Transgender immigrant, Juarez has witnessed firsthand the effects of unemployment discrimination, underemployment, and bigotry that many transgender and gender nonconforming people endure. In 2005, Juarez became active in the West Hollywood Transgender Taskforce, which ultimately became the West Hollywood Transgender Advisory Board and was the first government-recognized board in the nation to advise a city council on transgender issues. Her work spans various organizations including the Transgender Service Provider Network, the Transgender Law Center’s Transgender Economic Development Initiative, and Transgender Leadership Council.

Juarez designed the first Transgender Memorial Plaque for the city of West Hollywood erected at Mathew Sheppard Triangle in 2009 and inscribe with an original poem also written by Juarez. In 2010 Juarez received the Trans-Unity Trailblazer Award, the Minority AIDS Project Community Award, in 2013 she received the City of West Hollywood’s Rainbow Key Award, in 2014 she was one of Congressman Adam Schiff’s Woman of the Year, was listed on the national Trans* 100 list, in June 2016 was recognized for her contributions to the LGBT Community by Councilman Mike Bonin during LGBT Heritage Month in the City of Los Angeles and in 2019 Juarez was honored by the City of West Hollywood and the West Hollywood Transgender Advisor Board for her impactful activism. She has also graduated from the Los Angeles Police Department LGBT Community Police Academy and has become a certified trainer for the Los Angeles Police Department. Juarez was also a Latin American Fellow with the University of Colima Mexico and has assisted local employers and government officials on the development of inclusive policies and laws.

From 2012 to 2017, Juarez was the Board President of Gender Justice LA (formally FTM Alliance). Juarez is a sought-after speaker having presented locally and at national conferences. She has also served as a vocal advocate on behalf of Transgender and gender nonconforming issues and a consultant to local, state, national and international lawmakers on creating Trans-friendly legislation.

Due to Strict Government Pharmaceutical Guidelines, This Video was Not Available for Upload.

January 29, 2021

The Importance of U=U in HIV Care

Undetectable = Untransmittable.
Why is an undetectable viral load important?
What is the U=U concept?

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER:
Joseph Leahy
Sr. Community Liaison, Janssen Infectious Diseases

Joseph began his work in the HIV community in 1986 in New York City. He has served three times on the host committee for the U.S. Conference on AIDS and was honored with the 2018 National/Global Leadership Award from the LA County Women’s HIV/AIDS Task Force. In his current role for Janssen he supports the efforts of HIV Clinics and AIDS Service Organizations throughout Southern California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah and Hawaii. Joseph is particularly proud of his cameo role as the pediatrician, Dr. Marco Morez in season 2 of the groundbreaking series Sin Verguenza. He is the recipient of a 2007 Guardian Angel Award from the Life Group L.A. for outstanding service and dedication to the HIV Community.

January 22, 2021

Cure, Weight Gain, and New HIV Treatments

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER:
Nelson Vergel
Nelson Vergel is a 37 -year HIV survivor, health author, speaker and leading advocate for improved access to life-saving options for HIV+ people with limited treatment options and those with metabolic disorders. He holds a chemical engineering degree from McGill University in Montreal and an MBA from the University of Houston.  He is the founder of the non-profits Program for Wellness Restoration and The Body Positive Wellness Center. He is also an expert on TheBody.com on aging with HIV, lipodystrophy, hormone deficiencies and multidrug resistance. He is a co-founder of the AIDS Treatment Activist Coalition (ATAC) and successfully led efforts to convince the FDA and pharmaceutical companies to enable HIV+ people with limited treatment options to simultaneously access multiple investigational agents.  He served as a member of the DHHS HIV Adult Guidelines Committee for 4 years with a special focus on treatment of advanced patients and side effect management. He is now focused on advocating for research options for the immunological non-responder population whose CD4 cell count has not normalized after successful HIV viral control. He is the co-author of Built to Survive, and the author of Testosterone: A Man’s Guide and Beyond Testosterone.

January 15, 2021

Chair Yoga For Wellness

Chair yoga will help you increase flexibility, muscle strength and tone, improve respiration, energy and vitality, maintain a balanced metabolism, weight reduction, cardio and circulatory health and improved protection from injury. In addition, it can also help with chronic pain and symptom management for health problems including arthritis, depression, coronary artery disease, diabetes, and a variety of autoimmune conditions.

Yoga is from the Sankrit word "yuj" which means "to unite or integrate". Yoga is all about harmonizing the body with the mind and breath through the means of various breathing exercises, yoga poses (asanas) and meditation.

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER:
Debbie Lowe, TT/Yoga Alliance
11 years ago, at 57 years old, Debbie became a certified yoga instructor and became passionate about sharing her newly discovered joy and the healing she had found in yoga. Her pain from arthritis subsided and she began to move again without pain or struggle. The chatter in her brain quieted down and with a new found clarity, she began to accept herself and her body without judgement. She was able to see her full potential, and was happy and thriving. Her health improved and her lifetime of insomnia was cured. She felt compelled to share the practice with others.

January 8, 2021

Empath and Spiritual Protection

Why Do I Feel Everything?

Identify, accept and embrace your empathic gifts. Learn to take good care of yourself, emotionally and spiritually, in the face of negative energies, both living and dead.

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER:
Sheena Metal
Sheena Metal is a psychic/medium, spiritual counselor, intuitive and emotional empath, who specializes in personal vibrational motivation, soul enlightenment and energetic healing. She is also an interfaith minster, (who is a staff pastor at FoundersMCC.org), a teacher and a motivational speaker. A 26 year talk radio veteran, Sheena is the host of the “Sheena Metal Experience” radio show, the paranormal/spiritual “Haunted Playground” and two other programs for LA Talk Radio. She is also the founder of RaisingTheVibration.org, a non-profit peace, love, kindness and unity movement.

SheenaMetalSpiritual.com  RaisingTheVibration.org @Sheena Metal [Facebook/Instagram/TikTok/YouTube/Twitter]

December 18, 2020

Produced by Life Group LA

Please join us as we close out the year of our weekly Zoom Seminars with some fun and lighthearted games!

We are truly grateful for your attendance and support during 2020! It’s been a challenging year for us all, and making this transition to online events keeping us connected and supported could not have happened with you!

The Friday Zooms will continue until we can meet again in person!

Much Love,
Sunnie, Our Volunteers, Presenters, and Board of Directors.

December 11, 2020

BAKE ALONG WITH
Matthew and Michael

Michael and Matthew have been doing impromptu baking sessions for Musical Theatre West’s Facebook live and are pleased to be baking up some holiday cheer for Life Group LA.

We’re making Gingerbread People. Recipe will be emailed upon registration so you can gather up the supplies!

We suggest to anyone wanting to follow along make your dough the day before!

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTERS:
Matthew Smeda
Matthew Smedal is the Associate Music Director of Broadway’s Mrs. Doubtfire and the creator of jamandbreadofficial.com a brand new recipe blog.

Michael Betts
Michael Betts is a self professed foodie and the Box Office and Marketing Manager for Musical Theatre West in Long Beach, CA.

December 4, 2020

In Honor of World AIDS Day,
Meet Us @ Noon on Friday for

Evolving through HIV;
a Writing Exercise

Come prepared with pen and paper and lets explore the ways you have grown since HIV entered your life. Challenges like HIV bring extreme stress but also require us to adapt and grow in order to survive. HIV has changed the world; it has also changed YOUR world. We will start with introductions then some instructions before you spend some time writing. We will come back together to discuss before returning to the paper for a final writing session. You do NOT need to be a “good writer” to participate, you do NOT need to be a “good storyteller”, you don’t even need to be a good speller! What you write is just for you.

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER:
Brian Adams
Brian teaches psychology at community colleges in Los Angeles and Orange Counties. He volunteers as an emotional support group facilitator for Life Group LA. In addition to training new facilitators, Brian has driven Life Group LA’s continuing education sessions and has presented educational modules for L.A. Shanti and Life Group LA for almost 20 years. A native of Southern California.

November 13, 2020

Handling the Holidays: Emotional Wellness During Challenging Times

Here come the Holidays. Even during the best of times, the winter holidays can be a confusing mix of magical wonder and emotional overwhelm. This year, along with the usual family gatherings, special meals, and gift giving there is the added challenge of figuring out how to create holiday magic amid the precautions and restrictions associated with COVID-19. As joyful as the holiday season can be, it is easy to get caught up in the pressure of others’ ideas and expectations of what the perfect holiday should be. Add in the wide array of reactions to and ways of coping with the pandemic, and you could quickly find yourself feeling overwhelmed, unhappy, and wondering how you got sucked into the same old stressful story, AGAIN.

What if you had the tools to manage the stressors and challenges of the holidays at your fingertips?  What if you learned how to say NO in a kind way when you need to and mean it?  What if you were able to breathe and enjoy the holidays? 

In this seminar you will:

• Practice effective and simple tools to relieve stress
• Learn how to take your emotional temperature 
• Explore how to set clear boundaries and STICK TO THEM
• Learn how holiday stress affects the body
• Create a plan for how to manage stress not just for the holidays but also into the New Year
• Explore developing new traditions in response to Covid-19s

This year take control of your holidays and celebrate the joy of the season with laughter and joy in your heart.

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER:
John Sovec
John Sovec is a therapist in private practice in Pasadena California who works with clients on career transitions, goal setting, and motivation. He is the clinical consultant for The Life Group LA , adjunct faculty at Phillips Graduate Institute and guest lecturer at Alliant University and USC School of Social Work. John is currently a member of the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.

John Sovec is the author of multiple publications, speaks at conferences nationwide, and maintains a private practice. John is a respected trainer and presenter in the corporate, educational and non-profit sectors with almost thirty years experience. John has designed professional training models and seminars for the Walt Disney Company, Paramount Studios, Pandemic Studios, Electronic Arts, and Washington Mutual, His work has been featured on The Riki Lake Show, OWN, Bravo, FOX, The Advocate, YHTV, LA Talk Radio, Broad Topics and regular columns for Huffington Post and Good Therapy.

JohnSovec.com 
facebook.com/JohnSovecTherapy 
twitter.com/JohnSovec 

November 6, 2020

Facing Your Procrastination Problem

This presentation will shed some light on why we procrastinate and share some practical ways we can face our procrastination problem.

Everyone procrastinates. We all have things to do that we find boring, tedious, meaningless, difficult or we just plain resent doing. Procrastination unchecked can become resistance, avoidance, even aversion. It is also a source of shame for many of us because we think it means we are lazy, unmotivated, or even proof that we are a bad person.

During this extended pandemic and quarantine, we hear of others sharing how they have used the forced downtime to refinish the furniture, write their memoir, or learn to speak Italian. This feels particularly crappy when we don't seem to be able to get the bills paid on time and the laundry done. But, if procrastination makes us feel so bad, why do we keep doing it?

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER:
Diann Wingert
Diann Wingert is a mindset and productivity coach for female entrepreneurs who are falling short of their dreams and goals. During her 20-year career as a licensed psychotherapist, she saw many brilliant and ambitious women struggle with procrastination, perfectionism & self-doubt, which prevented them from reaching their full potential. After realizing that psychotherapy was not the answer, Diann trained and certified as a coach in order to shift the conversation from problems to possibilities. Her superpower is helping the driven but distracted woman eliminate everything that holds her back from achieving her goals and enjoying success without guilt or fear. Diann offers individual and group coaching and consultation and is an expert on ADHD in high ability and gifted women. She is also the host of the popular podcast, The Driven Woman which can be heard on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Amazon Music.

diannwingertcoaching.com
linkedin.com/in/diannwingertcoaching
instagram.com/coachdiannwingert
facebook.com/diannwingertcoaching 

October 30, 2020

I Am Raising My Own Vibration

How to Feed the Light and Starve the Dark in Your Life

In this session Sheena will be gifting us with some great insight and tips to help you better understand your past, present and future paths, personality and destiny, in hopes of finding a happier, emotionally-enriched and ethereally-connected self. Maybe you will be one of the lucky ones to get a complementary reading!

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER:
Sheena Metal
Sheena Metal is a psychic/medium, spiritual counselor, intuitive and emotional empath, who specializes in personal vibrational motivation, soul enlightenment and energetic healing. She is also an interfaith minster, (who is a staff pastor at FoundersMCC.org), a teacher and a motivational speaker. A 26 year talk radio veteran, Sheena is the host of the “Sheena Metal Experience” radio show, the paranormal/spiritual “Haunted Playground” and two other programs for LA Talk Radio. She is also the founder of RaisingTheVibration.org, a non-profit peace, love, kindness and unity movement.

SheenaMetalSpiritual.com  RaisingTheVibration.org @Sheena Metal [Facebook/Instagram/TikTok/YouTube/Twitter]

October 23, 2020

Transforming Perfectionism into Self-Compassion

We live in a world that demands us to be “perfect" in order to prove our worth and value. These unrealistic expectations creates a dis-ease within ourselves that’s very critical, no matter how many successes we have. Self-compassion is the antidote to what ails us.

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER:
James Guay, LMFT
James Guay, LMFT (#39252) is a psychotherapist inspired by seeing his clients transform from never feeling good enough despite their successes to a place where they can pursue excellence from a greater place of self-compassion, and enjoy their lives more fully.

He’s also a social justice activist with a mission to help bring more compassion into the world — especially for oppressed minorities.  To advance this cause, he’s testified against conversion therapy at California’s State Capital, appeared on various documentaries, and has written articles for Time, NY Times, LA Times, Huffington Post, and the Advocate.

Website: www.livingmorefully.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/jamesguaylmft

October 16, 2020

Mind over Matter!

Join us for a very interactive session with Sue Peahl, Board Certified Hypnotherapist. The state of our mind directly affects the state of our body. Every thought we have sets a chemical and energetic response in motion. In this workshop we'll explore how having a Mindfulness Practice can help us feel more calm, centered, and energized, as well as increasing our cells' ability to strengthen our physical state. Keeping our mind at peace, and creating more mental resilience to stressful situations, can give our body more peace as well.

In this session we'll:

• Reframe any negative running thought loops you may have
  
• Learn how to do this for yourself on an ongoing basis
  
• Learn and experience cyclical breathing for mental and physical health
  
• Get affirmations to use going forward for health and wellbeing
  
• Get a free, downloadable mp3 guided visualization recording from Sue

Come ready to workshop! We will do as much sharing as you're open to in the first hour; experience 10 minutes of breathing and guided visualization together, then do a longer breathing and relaxation session (whatever you're up for, 20-30 min?) at the end so that anyone who does not wish to experience this can exit zoom.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER:
Sue Peahl
Sue is a Board Certified Hypnotherapist, and Co-creator of Emotional Intelligence for Professionals eq4pros.com. Sue has worked for over 20 yrs. to help people make behavioral changes and remove obstacles to achieving their goals and creating more enjoyment in life. In addition to helping people make changes in their personal lives, Sue also coaches in the corporate world to help leaders grow their EQ and Interpersonal skills and to understand how people tick and how reversing our negative thought patterns can affect healing and Co-Creator of EQ for Professionals.

October 9, 2020

Heart-Centered Journaling, Covid Life

The benefits of journaling in the forms of catharsis, self-expression, and processing emotions through challenging times.

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER:
Judith Cassis, C.Ht.
Judith Cassis, C.Ht. is a New York Times Bestselling ghostwriter and book coach. She has written over 2,000 articles, ghostwritten numerous books, and created courses for trainers and teachers. Most of her personal writing is in the realm of self-development. Living in the mountains of the Los Padres National Forest, she leads self-publishing workshops, writers’ retreats.

In 2000 Judith founded The Golden Pen Writers Guild, a writing group that continues to thrive. The group has published 8 anthologies. In 2014 Judith founded the Writers Mastermind Alliance through Writer to Writer, and in 2015 she launched a certification program for writers.

Judith's passion is supporting others in enhancing quality of life through learning. She is a trainer and inspirational speaker and has been invited to speak to high school students and at-risk youth about overcoming adversity.

www.writertowriter.com
www.facebook.com/judith.cassis
www.facebook.com/judithcassisauthor

October 2, 2020

Insomnia & HIV

During these times of stress Insomnia can affect us all, but is it just stress? Dr Cho will talk to you about the different causes of insomnia, how inflammation is involved in the treatment of insomnia and depression and share about a current online sleep study you may qualify for and want to be a part of.

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER:
Joshua Hyong-Jin Cho, MD, PhDy
Associate Professor, Director, UCLA Insomnia Clinic David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
Dr. Joshua Hyong-Jin Cho is director of the UCLA Insomnia Clinic at the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior and a board-certified psychiatrist who practices in Westwood. His clinical interests include the treatment of insomnia and depression.

Dr. Cho is also an associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. He currently conducts epidemiological and translational research on how inflammation is involved in the treatment of insomnia and depression. Throughout his career, his research has focused more broadly on the role of inflammation in depression, fatigue, and sleep disturbance—collectively known as "sickness behavior."

Dr. Cho obtained his medical degree (MD) from the University of Sao Paulo School of Medicine. He then completed his psychiatry residency training at the University of Sao Paulo, and later completed a second psychiatry residency at UCLA. He earned a master's degree in epidemiology from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, and earned his doctorate (PhD) from the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, before training as a postdoctoral fellow at the Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology at UCLA.

Dr. Cho has received an NIH R21 Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Award and an NIH K23 Career Development Award. He was awarded the UCLA CTSI KL2 Translational Science Award, the NARSAD Young Investigator Grant, the UCLA MSTAR Best Research Mentor Award, and several other awards from institutions such as the National Institutes of Health, the American Psychiatric Association, the Southern Psychiatric Association, the American Psychosomatic Society, and the Korean Neuro-Psychiatric Association. His scientific work has been published in prestigious journals including American Journal of Psychiatry, Molecular Psychiatry, Biological Psychiatry, British Journal of Psychiatry, and Neuropsychopharmacology.

Sept. 25, 2020

Emerging as an Activist

Emerging as an Activist aims to help individuals bring forth their activist mindset and learn how to become involved in causes they love, regardless of their experience. This workshop will help identify ways in which lived experiences can serve as a catalyst for activism and fighting injustice; however that means to an individual.

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER:
Jake Rostovsky
MA, LMFT
Jake Rostovsky, MA, LMFT, is a mental health clinician and noted advocate, thought leader and consultant. Jake's passion is to help mental health clinicians provide a truly affirmative, safe and inclusive environment for LGBTQ+ clients. Jake has also worked with many organizations, including NBCUniversal, Buzzfeed and Lionsgate, in regard to moving them beyond being "welcoming" and "accepting" for gender diverse employees. In his free time, he is an avid true crime junkie and loves to spend time with his partner, Jason, in their hometown of Los Angeles.

Due to Strict Government Pharmaceutical Guidelines, This Video was Not Available for Upload.

Sept. 18, 2020

Living and Aging with HIV

In Honor of National HIV/AIDS
and Aging Awareness Day

Produced by Life Group LA

Sponsored in part by

PRESENTER:
Joseph Leahy
Sr. Community Liaison, Janssen Infectious Diseases
Joseph began his work in the HIV community in 1986 in New York City. He has served three times on the host committee for the U.S. Conference on AIDS and was honored with the 2018 National/Global Leadership Award from the LA County Women’s HIV/AIDS Task Force. In his current role for Janssen he supports the efforts of HIV Clinics and AIDS Service Organizations throughout Southern California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah and Hawaii. Joseph is particularly proud of his cameo role as the pediatrician, Dr. Marco Morez in season 2 of the groundbreaking series Sin Verguenza. He is the recipient of a 2007 Guardian Angel Award from the Life Group L.A. for outstanding service and dedication to the HIV Community.

Due to Strict Government Pharmaceutical Guidelines, This Video was Not Available for Upload.

Sept. 11, 2020

Building a Plan to Manage HIV as a Chronic Condition

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER:

Dr. Theo W. Hodge, Jr., MD
Infectious Disease Physician
Theo Wallace Hodge, Jr, MD, is an Infectious Disease physician, HIV Specialist, and a Clinical Trials Sub-investigator and Principal Investigator at Capital Medical Associates in Washington, DC. Dr Hodge also serves as HIV Consultant at the Community of Hope of Washington, DC, and holds an appointment as Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at George Washington University School of Medicine

Dr Hodge is a graduate of the University of Virginia and its School of Medicine in Charlottesville, VA. He completed a residency in Internal Medicine at Georgetown University and Washington Veterans Affairs Medical Center and a fellowship in Infectious Disease at Washington Hospital Center/Washington Veterans Affairs Medical Center, both in Washington, DC.

Principal and Sub-investigator on numerous clinical trials on HIV infection in a private ambulatory setting. Dr Hodge has published articles within the Journal of Clinical Infectious Diseases and presented his work at national meetings. He is a member of the Infectious Disease Society of America, The American Academy of HIV Medicine, and the Greater Washington Infectious Disease Society.

Dr Hodge currently is board certified in both Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases. He is also certified as an HIV Specialist by the American Academy of HIV Medicine.

Sept. 4, 2020

SECRETS of the Orient / Strategies for AGING WELL

Yoga Qi talk/demo/teach-in, where Den will share some of his best kept secrets for stress management and of aging gracefully garnered from a lifetime of fearless trial and error.

Bring your workout mats or experience as a chair yoga session; or simply come with open minds to be entertained. In any way you decide to experience the hour, simply join us for your Moment of Zen.

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER:

Simeon Den, Yogi, Integrative Quantum Medicine™, Artist
Simeon Den is a 70 year old, four decades long HIV survivor, who practices and teaches yoga & meditation. He also hosts a podcast “Old Gay/New Gay” as his drag persona, Sue Madre. wherein she interviews Millennial gays and gay elders in her attempt to bridge the generational divides in Gay Culture. For the past 50 years Den has practiced, developed, and taught Yoga Qi, his own yoga discipline that integrates the principles of yoga, IQM energy work (martial arts & quantum science) with mindful meditation.

Aug. 28, 2020

Psychic Debris, Crowded Closets: The Relationship Between the Stuff in Your Head and What’s Under Your Bed

Cluttered minds and crowded closets weigh us down, thwart productivity, and make it difficult to move forward with ease and a sense of clarity. Psychic Debris, Crowded Closets is a fun, funny insightful conversation about our relationship with mess as a chronic condition. Dr. Regina Lark provides practical tools and strategies to, Understand the weight of physical and mental clutter, to recognize roadblocks that prevent cleared mind/space and Identify strategies to de-clutter the mind, and other matters.

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER:

Dr. Regina Lark, Ph.D., CPO, Author
Dr. Regina Lark earned a Ph.D. in U.S. History from the University of Southern California. Her dissertation focused on the relationships between Japanese women and American soldiers who met and married during the US Occupation of Japan. After graduation, Dr. Lark served as an adjunct professor at a community college. In early 2000, Regina worked with UCLA Women’s Studies program, and then joined UCLA Extension for adult learning. In 2008, two months after an unexpected lay-off from her position as a Program Director, Dr. Regina Lark founded her professional organizing company, A Clear Path: Professional Organizing and Productivity.

Regina is a Certified Professional Organizer (CPO) and a Certified Professional Organizer in Chronic Disorganization (CPO-CD). She is a graduate of the Organizer Coach Foundation Training Program, and is a Professional Member of the National Speakers’ Association. 

Regina specializes in working with chronic disorganization, ADHD, and hoarding.  On the move/relocation side of her company, The Clear Path team of “ninja organizers” offers expert services helping families upsize or downsize from one home to the next, A Clear Path recently earned our industry’s highest designation as an Accredited Senior Move Management Company. 

In 2017, Dr. Lark released the 3rd edition of first book, Psychic Debris, Crowded Closets: The Relationship between the Stuff in your Head and What's Under your Bed (now available on Audible). She is also the author of Before the Big O: Professional Organizers Talk about Life Before Organizing. 

Dr. Lark is a speaker and trainer on issues ranging from hoarding, time management and productivity, women’s leadership, and the power of positive thinking. For more information visit, Speaking of Clutter. She has 2 current book projects: 1-Habit for Chronic Disorganization (1-Habit Books, release June 2020) – and – Unmasking the Invisible: A Professional Woman’s Guide to Organizing their Mental Load, Physical Clutter, and Emotional Well-Being – is in process with anticipated release date of January 2021. 

Regina was named one of Top 10 Organizers in Los Angeles by CBS/KCAL Channel 2, and was also awarded NAPO-LA’s Most Innovative Organizer. 

For fun, she plays golf and tennis, and writes goofy songs about clutter.

Friday, Aug. 21

FUN FRIDAY BINGO

Let’s lighten up a bit and play a game
with each other and have some fun!

Produced by Life Group LA

Join us this Friday for a fun, free Bingo game with some fun prizes! Register below and your bingo cards will be emailed to you within an hour!

The Zoom link will be sent Friday morning by 9am. If you do not receive your zoom link before 10am please message us at sunnie@thelifegroupla.org

Aug. 14, 2020

Improving Our Wellness through our Relationship with Animals

Human-animal bond, how it promotes mental and physical health, an overview of the different kinds of working animals and how you can get involved

Produced by Life Group LA
In collaboration with Pet Partners.

PRESENTER:

Taylor Chastain, Ph.D.
In her role as National Director of AAI Advancement for Pet Partners, Taylor Chastain, Ph.D., focuses on supporting research and professional development within the therapy animal arena. Having witnessed hundreds of interactions between her own therapy animals and the people with whom they’ve visited, Taylor is passionate about bolstering the intervention with empirical investigation. Taylor obtained her doctorate in research psychology in 2018, with her studies focusing on the human-animal bond as it is experienced in contexts of shared traumatic experiences. Through her undergraduate education in psychology and animal behavior to her graduate work to become a mental health counselor, Taylor has always strived to shape her educational and professional endeavors with the foundational goal of promoting AAI. Taylor is also a dog trainer and Pet Partners team evaluator and has been a registered handler with Pet Partners since 2015. Taylor is secretary for the APA’s Section on Human Animal Interaction and serves as a mental health expert on the GVMA Resilience & Well-Being Committee. Taylor is based in Georgia where she lives with her 6 dogs and 3 cats.

July 31, 2020

KUPUNA: Understanding the Native Hawaiian relationship to our elders and how our HIV elders have influenced modern day HIV

How to Honor and Take Care of Our HIV+ Elders and Long-Term Survivors

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTERS:

Keiva Lei Cadena
Keiva Lei Cadena is a Native Hawaiian woman of trans experience. Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Keiva has called Honolulu, Hawaii home for the last 20 years. She was diagnosed with HIV in August of 2004.

Keiva is currently the Community Engagement Coordinator at Hawaii Health & Harm Reduction Center (HHHRC), where she plans and facilitates programs, retreats, events, and groups, designed to empower, educate, support, and cultivate leadership and advocacy amongst the HIV+ community across the state of Hawaii. Keiva specializes in HIV testing counseling and linkage for newly diagnosed individuals. Nationally, she sits on the Positively Trans-National Advisory Board, she is a member of Positive Women’s Network and is also a graduate of NMAC’s Building Leader of Color-BLOC Program.

In 2016 she developed a leadership network of people living with HIV across the state of Hawaii. Over the last 4 years, she has traveled across the state with HHHRC and recruited over 75 people with HIV to attend a leadership development seminar. The 3-day workshop provided PLWHA the opportunity to understand the programmatic and administrative structure of services and funding for Ryan White and the Hawaii state department of Health’s, Harm Reduction Services Branch, which provides guidelines and funding for ASO’s in Hawaii. Keiva named the PLHIV Leadership Network “The POP Ohana” – A family of People Organizing Positively (POP). It is the first support and leadership network of its kind in Hawaii.

Keiva travels across the country advocating for the rights and protections of all people living with HIV. She uses her own personal story of sex work, substance use, domestic and sexual violence, poverty and homelessness to plant a seed of hope and strength for other women like her across the country.

In November of 2019 she was named one of POZ Magazines 100 most influential people in HIV. And Received the Torch Award for her leadership as an HIV community advocate and service provider.

In her personal life Keiva has raised three hanai (adopted) daughters and a 3-year-old granddaughter. She is a fierce activist for the advancement and protections of Native Hawaiian people, their lands, and their culture. She has been a lifelong hula practitioner and holds great pride in her Native Hawaiian roots.

Michael Carver
Lori D Michael grew up in a small Mormon farm town. He was in his teens when he watched the Stonewall riots on TV, from that point on, he knew he wanted to get out of the intolerant environment he was in and become an activist. Disclosing to his parents that he was gay was awful, but it was nothing compared to telling them in 1984 that he was diagnosed with AIDS. At that time, doctors told him he might live a few months to 2 years at best. He managed to survive until the first successful drug therapy was discovered in 1996. Within a few months he was undetectable, and has maintained that status to the present. He can't describe the horrors he witnessed during the AIDS pandemic, but it made him an advocate for the rights of other long-term AIDS survivors, as well as LGBTQ civil rights. Michael was involved in the early campaign for gay marriage in Hawaii in 1998.

July 24, 2020

An Introduction to Compassionate Non-Violent Communication (NVC)

Nonviolent Communication is about living a life of compassion, collaboration, courage and authenticity. Words matter. In this course you will learn how words can create connection and understanding. You will learn powerful communication tools you can use immediately. You will learn how to listen with empathy and effective self-expression and how to build life skills that will improve your personal interactions.

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER: Lori Delaney, PT, DPT, MHA
Lori Delaney has a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree and a Masters HealthCare Administration. She believes that all children deserve the opportunity to reach their potential. She has been the executive director for over 26 years leading a team of exceptional people to deliver compassionate, respectful and helpful services. She is a Nonviolent Certification candidate, with over 25 hours of training in NVC and 10 years of practice. With Mary Mackenzie, she led a practice group in Long Beach, CA. She believes that learning to communicate with compassion and from an intent to connect will lead to more satisfying relationships. 

More info about
Non-Violent Communication (NVC)

July 17, 2020

“Words Matter”

How words can influence your thoughts,
emotions and ultimately your life.

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER: Laura Figueroa
Laura Isabel Figueroa is a motivational speaker and author of the book “De La Opresión a La liberación” (From Oppression to Liberation). A true story of resilience, love and healing.

Laura has a BA in Psychology and a Masters in Business. She has 25 five years of experience educating, advocating and empowering people in our community. 

July 10, 2020

Unmasked:
COVID SCAMS
What to Watch out For!

Don’t get scammed!
Come and learn about current Covid-related scams and how to protect yourself and your money.

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER: Michelle Simek
Writer, Activist, and Speaker
Michelle has worked in HIV/AIDS for over 20 years and is a popular local and national educational speaker. She currently works at the UCLA CARE Center as a Patient Retention Specialist and is also a Contributing Writer for Positively Aware (PA) magazine. If you miss an issue of PA, you can find them online at PositivelyAware.com

July 3, 2020

Intersection of Covid and HIV. What we know and what we can learn.

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER: Christina Madison
PharmD, AAHIVP (Owner @The Public Health Pharmacist)
Dr. Madison is an immunizing pharmacist and has been a trainer of student pharmacists and community/hospital pharmacists in both Nevada and Utah since 2008. She actively participates in both state and national pharmacy and healthcare organizations to facilitate awareness of healthcare policy, education, and advocacy. She is a content expert in the areas of HIV prevention and treatment, Sexually Transmitted Infections, Pharmacy Based Immunization Delivery, Women’s Health, LGTBQ Health, and Gender Affirming Care. She is a media and podcast contributor with a passion for giving back to the community through education, awareness, and public health policy. Advocating for change to improve the health and wellness of vulnerable populations and the underserved.

In as much as we had planned to be able to share all our recorded video’s from our “Meet Us at Noon” Workshop Series’, Due to the unexpected sensitive nature of the participant’s sharing during this particular presentation Life Group LA has chosen not to make this presentation public.

June 19, 2020

A Double Battle: Maintaining Sobriety During Social Distancing and Isolation

This conversation is about the harsh reality that many of us who struggle or have struggled with substances knows. At times loneliness or lack of emotional connections can lead to negative thoughts and feelings and these thoughts and feelings may lead us to relapse. In a time of social distancing and the inability to connect with others in person, what do we do for social and emotional support to stay sober?

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER: Jorge Diaz, MSW
Director of Prevention Programs and Services
Jorge DIaz is an activist/advocate and currently is the Director of Prevention Services for the Gay/Bi/MSM community at Bienestar Human Services. He is a writer for Adelante magazine-where he addresses social and culture issues that impact Latino gay/bisexual men in their coming out process and journey of self-acceptance.

June 12, 2020

Inter-Locking the Balance of Peace, Purpose, and Pleasure

Tips and Tools with an active, interactive discussion on peace, purpose, and pleasure during the pandemic and protests.

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER: Damon Jacobs
Damon L. Jacobs is a New York-based Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a tireless HIV prevention advocate who focuses his work on health, love, and pleasure. Through his clinical work, Damon has helped hundreds of couples and individuals create joyful and peaceful relationships. He is also the author of the books RATIONAL RELATING and ABSOLUTELY SHOULD-LESS. Damon is best known for championing the use of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) through his work on social media, news print, broadcast appearances, and is featured as one of 35 “Leading HIV Activists” by The Advocate. His trainings have helped thousands to learn practical skills for living an empowered and fulfilling life. To speak with Damon about counseling, speaking engagements, or media appearances, please contact Damon@DamonLJacobs.com or call 347-227-7707. damonljacobs.com

Damon’s work has been featured on MSNBC, The New York Times, USA Today, NPR, The Dan Savage LoveCast, New York Magazine, Fox News Latino, New York WPIX 11, ABC News.Com (Tampa), Al Jazeera America, The Advocate, OUT Magazine, Huffington Post Live, Daily Xtra, Queens Public Access, HIV Equal, Broadway World, POZ Magazine, Feast Of Fun, The Body.com, The Bilerico Project, Affect Magazine, Globo TV (Brazil), RTL Nieuws (Dutch), and more. 

May 29, 2020

Being Close While Being Apart

Maintaining Meaningful Connections During the Pandemic

How do we create deep, authentic contact with others while not being able to meet in person? How can we stay present in ourselves so we don’t lose our grounding while relating through a screen?

In this workshop we will look at what supports us feeling close and connected during times when meeting in person isn’t practical. It will be an interactive workshop where you will get to learn and practice relating tools, share your experiences, and connect with others who are also looking to improve their skills in closeness and connection through the internet or video calling.

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER: Claes Lilja
claeslilja.com and brotherhoodretreats.com
Claes Lilja is a facilitator, teacher, and coach with more than 20 years experience of working in human growth and development. Claes holds degrees in Psychology and in International Business, is a certified Integral Coach. He is the founder and leader of Brotherhood Retreats, which offers body-mind-spirit retreats to people impacted by HIV in addition to being a presenter and emotional support group facilitator for The Life Group LA. Claes also has an extensive background in the Enneagram and is currently developing a curriculum for an online Enneagram training course as well as a forthcoming book on the Enneagram.

Claes holds degrees in Psychology and in International Business, is a certified Integral Coach with additional training focusing on adult maturity development. Claes is also a long-term student of the Diamond Approach with A.H. Almaas. Besides his skills and background in human development, psychology and business, Claes is an accomplished filmmaker and photographer, having produced several award-winning projects and captured portraits of many prominent subjects around the world.

May 22, 2020

Nutrition and Your Immune System

“Lets’ first start by assessing where you are at. Are you ready for change? Are you scared? Do you have a lot of questions spinning around in your head? Confused by social media claims or family input?

We work on a plan of action together. You are the main part of this team. We look at each piece of the puzzle and see how we can make those pieces fit.

Let us stop labeling food as good and bad, healthy or not. Health is not determined just by the choices we make­­—it comes about when we find that balance that makes us feel good and makes us smile.”

Produced by Life Group LA

PRESENTER:
Ellyn Silverman-Linnetz
Healing Nutrition Therapy, CEDRD, PA-C
Bachelors of Science, Nutrition, Masters of Public Health, Fellowship in Metabolic Disorders, PA, Member of the National Eating Disorder Assoc. and Member of the IAEDP www.HealingNutritionTherapy.com

May 15, 2020

Who Are YOU Choosing To Be?

A workshop for finding life changing answers.

By learning how to realign with the thoughts feelings and actions that lead to an optimal state of being, life’s most powerful, purpose filled answers can be found within each of us. Sometimes all we need is to be asked a few life-changing questions in order to reveal the wisdom that we already possess.

Presented by Life Group LA and MarkEdgarStephens.com

Mark Edgar Stephens was born in Polk County, Florida and graduated from Florida State University.  His early career was in the world of entertainment in New York City.  Subsequently, he was offered the opportunity to travel the United States, Europe, Asia, and South America as an actor, singer, and spokesperson for live productions and televised programming.  His years of travel and public appearances were preparation for his current career as a coach and consultant for entertainment, healthcare, and lifestyle companies.  Mark's post graduate studies at HMI, College of Hypnotherapy in Los Angeles, CA inspired him to specialize in coaching and consulting focused in body language, communication, NLP, relationship strategies, public speaking, and leadership. 

Soon after attending HMI, Mark was tapped by television networks to appear in reality, talk show, and news programming. While working in the media and with individual clients in his private practice, Mark's services were requested by companies, corporations, and non-profit organizations undergoing changes in culture and goals as a result of growth, economic upheaval, and technological advancements.  Those companies included Bloomingdales, Paul Mitchell the School, Upward Bound House, Human Rights Watch/Women's Rights Committee, Community Chiropractic, and High Desert Regional Health Center.  Those organizations have been key in Mark's continued work with executives, leadership teams, and the communities they affect.

In 2016, 2017, 2018 & 2019 Mark was recognized and honored with the distinction of being one of the top 30 Body Language Experts in the World.  He is also the author of the book, "Who Are You Choosing To Be?" and his book was chosen to be a part of the curriculum for advanced placement psychology classes in selected schools in the State of Florida.

May 8, 2020

Topic: Emotional Wellness

These are challenging times and very few of us are prepared for the isolation, distancing, crisis management and deep visceral response we experience in our spirit, mind, heart, and body. Our emotions can run the gamut from deep quiet and contentment to rage and stress.  All of these emotions can take a toll on our wellbeing and can leave us feeling exhausted and confused. 

It can also feel like everybody else is doing their social distancing perfectly. Baking bread, planting a farm of fresh vegetables, being politically conscious, and learning to speak a new language in a weekend. It can leave us with a feeling of failure and disappointment as we struggle to simply make it through each day and put our shirts on right way out.

Join The Life Group LA clinical consultant and therapist John Sovec for a wide-ranging conversation on the best tools to manage your emotional and mental state during the Covid 19 outbreak. We will explore the bodies response to ongoing stress and anxiety, some practical tools you can implement to manage each day, find balance during this stressful time, and take a moment to breathe together to connect on a higher level. 

Presenter: John Sovec, LMFT JohnSovec.com
John Sovec, LMFT is a highly respected therapist, trainer, and speaker in the HIV/AIDS community with 30 years experience focusing on community mental health, advocacy and education. John speaks nationally on the topic of HIV care, including the US Conference on Aids, Minority AIDS Project and the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association. John is adjunct faculty at Phillips Graduate Institute and guest lecturer at Alliant University, USC School of Social Work and other top universities.

May 1, 2020

Topics:

• The Body’s Eco-System during Covid 19
  Balancing your Body, Mind and Soul during times of Stress and Uncertainty.
  • Presenter: Sam Page, Elite Master Trainer at Golds Gym, Founder of Athletes for Humanity, Featured Writer at the Advocate and HIV PLUS
    
    Sam's philosophy, that your health is a relationship between you and the dynamic ecosystem of your life, is something we are all striving to balance. In this talk, Sam will unlock the secrets of this hidden ecosystem and leave you with tools which will empower extraordinary health for you and your loved ones in this time of uncertainty.
    
    

    Sam Page is a fitness coach and sports writer in Los Angeles. For nearly a decade, he has coached hundreds of men and women, helping them to uncover their inner athlete and desire to change their bodies. After obtaining his bachelor’s degree from Gonzaga University and publishing HERO Magazine, he moved to Los Angeles in 1997.

    As fitness program director of the Hollywood Production Centers and TEN TEN Wilshire, and trainer behind top talent of the ABC reality show, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, producers and celebrities rely on him to motivate them to stay in top shape. His sports writing has been featured in USA Today, HIV Plus, Advocate, PASSPORT, LIVESTRONG and in The Chicago Sun-Times. But it’s not just about celebrity fitness. Click around his website and read the testimonials on the site. Real people, from every walk of life, have found within themselves the power to transform. He’s grateful to have coached such an incredible cadre of men and women; they have deepened his experience and resolve. Visit www.peacelovelunges.com for more info.

• Personal Self Care at Home - 101 
  At home spa treatments that won’t break the bank; Nutritionals for body detox; hand and body care; at home manicures and basic’s of at home hair color and blending as well as post meeting, free zoom consults with stylists and estheticians.
  • Presenter: Ruby Bonilla, Esthetician, Social Media Manager | Brand Educator
    
    After getting her Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice with a Minor in Broadcasting, Ruby Bonilla discovered a passion that took her in a totally different direction – make-up and skincare. She ventured into this new foray eight years ago and has never looked back.
    
    For the past four years, Ruby has been working for Beauty Collection, where she has not only increased her brand and product knowledge, but enjoys educating customers about beauty and how to take care of their skin. She stays up-to-date on latest trends by attending beauty conventions and got her professional training as a make-up artist at Ruby’s Beauty Academy (not her own).
    
    In addition to sharing her expertise with Beauty Collection’s clients, Ruby is also the hostess of @HelloRubyyRose on Instagram, where she shares skincare routines and make-up tutorials, and she has become Beauty Collection’s go-to expert on CBD beauty and wellness products.
  
  

April 24, 2020

Covid-19 and the Loss of Your Employer Provided Insurance

TOPICS COVERED:

• Cobra vs. Covered CA
  
• How to calculate income with Covered CA
  
• If I have suffered a loss in wages, can I move my individual plan (purchased direct) to Covered CA?
  
• Followed by a round of questions and answers

PRESENTER:
Giulio Campanelli
Life and Health Insurance Agent
www.gcampinsurance.com

I have been in the insurance business since 2005 and I have helped hundreds of individuals and families with life insurance, mortgage protection and health insurance needs, including subsidized plans through Covered California. I also work with small and large group business owners to put together group plans and help them understand the ACA requirements. I am contracted with many major carriers and will always do my best to shop for competitive rates. I go that extra mile to make sure your physicians are in-network and your prescription drugs are covered. In addition, I specialize in the Senior market. Medicare enrollment can be complicated, and without proper planning, it can lead to bankruptcy. Each year, I spend one hundred hours taking exams and re-certifying with over 15 insurance carriers because I believe in taking good care of our Seniors. As a broker, I help my clients understand all of their choices which allows them to choose the plan best suits their needs and their budget.

April 17, 2020

Topic: Debt Relief for PLWH Amid the Covid-19 Pandemic
We will address consumer issues covering the current CARES Act, Government Funds and General Debt Relief for PLWH.

Presenter: Henry Glowa, henryglowa.com
In 1988, Henry Glowa graduated from law school, passed the California Bar Exam, and immediately went to work for one of the world’s largest law firms. While working there, he was given the opportunity to prepare bankruptcy cases, on a pro bono basis, for people living with HIV/AIDS and terminally ill patients. After several years at the firm, Henry opened his own office to devote his attention, full-time, to helping people and small businesses in financial crisis.

Henry has represented both creditors and debtors over the past 23 years, He found his passion lies in helping individuals and small businesses suffering from the burdens of overwhelming debt. It is Henry's goal to treat each client in a professional, nonjudgmental, discreet way, with compassion and dignity.

April 3, 2020

Topics:

• Workplace Protection Guide for PLWH During Covid 19 
  A discussion of workplace protections and other related issues for workers living with HIV during the coronavirus pandemic including helpful information from the recently passed federal Stimulus Bill.
  • Presenter: Lindsey Wagner, Attorney at Law
• Finding Purpose and Meaning Even During Periods of Crisis and Sequestering: The Lived Experiences of a Submariner and now Clinician
  You will hear about ways to stop resenting your situation and if you are sharing a space learn how to change your perspective about each other. You will hear ways of growing in positives ways while being in close quarters with others. You will learn how to bring purpose and meaning into your life even now.
  • Presenter: John Dennem, LPCC, CADC-II, YN1(SS) USN (Ret.)

March 27, 2020

Topic: Living With HIV in The Covid-19 Pandemic
Collaborators: Life Group LA, HIV Thrive, and The Public Health Pharmacist
Presenters:

• Michelle J Sherman, RPh,APh,FASCP,FACA,AAHIVP (Chief Thriver @HIV Thrive.com)
  • Michelle is a nationally recognized HIV Advanced Practice Pharmacist practicing in Orange County, California for over twenty-five years. She has extensive experience and expertise with HIV medications, adherence and resistance issues, ADAP, CalOptima/Medi-Cal, Medicare Part D issues, 340B Programs, HIV Sensitivity issues and pharmacist care services for HIV infected individuals.
• Christina Madison, PharmD, AAHIVP (Owner @The Public Health Pharmacist)
  • Dr. Madison is an immunizing pharmacist and has been a trainer of student pharmacists and community/hospital pharmacists in both Nevada and Utah since 2008. She actively participates in both state and national pharmacy and healthcare organizations to facilitate awareness of healthcare policy, education, and advocacy. She is a content expert in the areas of HIV prevention and treatment, Sexually Transmitted Infections, Pharmacy Based Immunization Delivery, Women’s Health, LGTBQ Health, and Gender Affirming Care. She is a media and podcast contributor with a passion for giving back to the community through education, awareness, and public health policy. Advocating for change to improve the health and wellness of vulnerable populations and the underserved.
• John Sovec, LMFT (JohnSovec.com)
  • John Sovec, LMFT is a highly respected therapist, trainer, and speaker in the HIV/AIDS community with 30 years experience focusing on community mental health, advocacy and education. John has developed HIV specific programing for multiple agencies focused on disclosure, safer sex practices, aging, and intimacy.  He is the clinical consultant for The Life Group LA, served on the board for The Red Ribbon Foundation and The Mountain Aids Foundation, and speaks nationally on the topic of HIV care, including the US Conference on Aids, Minority AIDS Project and the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association. John is adjunct faculty at Phillips Graduate Institute and guest lecturer at Alliant University, USC School of Social Work and other top universities.