Journey Continues…

Faces and Voices 2026

Faces and Voices 2026—The Journey Continues is HOCC’s evolving web page dedicated to keeping women connected to each other and informed about their health, wellness, and their community. Meeting women when and where they are is our goal for keeping our web page up to date and ready for visitors. There, people can see our most recent health and wellness information, share in women’s wisdom and voices, and appreciate our sisters’ smiles—and even sometimes, tears.

Welcome to HOCC’s Faces and Voices Part Three –

The Journey Continues!

Faces and Voices:
December 2025 – December 2026

Save the Date!

April 13, 2026

“Sleep as Self-Care”

with Dallas Ducar, MSN, RN, NP, CNL, FAAN

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April 2026 ZOOM Programing

Monday, April 6th @ 10:00am – 11:00am

“Mindful Movement”

with Ellie Enichen

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March 9, 2026

“HOCC’s Annual National Women & Girls HIV/AIDS Awarness Day”

with Jacqueline T Chu, MD

HOCC Getting Setup & Started

On their way from the North Shore to HOCC!

Setting-up

Signing-in

Getting fine touches in places!

Mindful Exercise with Meghan

 

Inspirational Readings

 

Program Discussion

 

This presentation honors the strength and resilience of women living with HIV, highlighting the significance of National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awarness Day. We will explore the concept of resilience, share data and stories, and discuss strategies to empower and support these women.

 

In the 1980s, Stephen Covey created the concept of a Circle of Concern and a Circle of Influence. The Circle of Concern contains things we care about but can’t control. The Circle of Influence are the things we care about and can impact. That was further simplified into the Circle of Control – things we can control, things we can influence, and things we can not control.

FACES

 

VOICES

  • “Such an important program for all of us!

  • “Thank you Dr. Jackie – this program keeps HIV real for all women!”

  • “Understand now how important calcium is in our daily diet and certainly more than I thought!”

  • “HOCC supports me being connected to both communities and ”

  • “HOCC always supports all women – and it’s so important!”

  • “Today’s program about resiliency was really important – my tank is full today!”

  • “Laughter for me helps me get through each day and today was perfect!”

  • “The NWGAAD is so important – not something you can just dismiss – we are here and today we are strong!”

  • “Honoring the resilience of women living with HIV can’t be taken lightly – it’s been hard to get here!”

  • “Thank you – today was just what I needed!”

  • “I love my HOCC Family!”

  • “Information today was great and loved the speaker today!”

  • “Today was amazing resilience was a great topic!

  • “I loved the gas tank analogy!”

  • “The whole group was really helpful!!!”

  • “Really helpful reinforcing things that are both within and outside of our control.”

  • “Thank you HOCC – great topic today!!!”

  • “The circle of control was really a good reminder.”

  • “One of the best parts of HOCC is that we share our thoughts and feelings with each other and it’s safe to do so!”

  • “Dr Jackie’s presentation was amazing!”

  • “The best part of the program was the tank idea – ideas od filling up my tank and knowing what drains my tank – finding balance!”

  • “It was really helpful to hear about building and growing resiliency and knowing          I can’t change things out of my control.”

  • “It was nice meeting positive happy people – fuel for fun!”

  • “It was really good to be a part of the girls and women who are living with HIV/AIDS and celebrating them!”

  • “It was great to acknowledge our community on the NWGHAAD – thank you HOCC – you are the only folks doing this that I know of in MA!”

  • “Resiliency is the strength to bounce nack – I am bouncing !!!”

  • “I always get what I really need from this group – sometimes before I even knew I needed it!”

  • “It was really nice to have new people to HOCC today and see women that have not been to HOCC for a minute!”

  • “With all the things going on in the world HOCC is one place I feel safe to speak and be me.”

  • “It’s nice to see new people and returning people – not sure how HOCC does it – these days not much is happening in the community at all – new or old!”

  • “Great program today – just what I needed!”

  • Thank you HOCC family – see you next month!”

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March 2026 ZOOM Programing

Monday, March 16th @ 12:00pm – 1:00pm

“Finacial Wellness Returns”

with Michelle Braithwaite

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February 9, 2026

“Heart Strong – HOCC Strong: Matters of the Heart”

with Sara Looby, PhD, ANP-BC, FAAN

 

HOCC Getting Setup & Started

Mindful Exercise with Meghan

 

Program Discussion

FACES

Lots of Raffles!!!

HOCC Closes Down Another Succesful Program – See You in March!

VOICES

  • “The best thing that happens at HOCC is the ladies togetherness!”

  • “Sara keeps it real and makes it easy to understand!”

  • “I know I have heard this before but today I really heard it – I need to eat a healthy diet and loose weight!”

  • “I know I really have to take care of myself better and the reminders today made it really clear – I don’t have any options if I don’t.”

  • “I really need to stop smoking!”

  • “A few things I heard today – really made sense – loose more weight, drink more water, and eat a healthier diet.”

  • “Thank you Sara – you made my heart matter today!”

  • “I really need to exercise more and talk with my doctor about some of my concerns.”

  • “I know when I have had some pains in my chest I have convinced myself it’s nothing – but I am going to have my doctor decide that.”

  • “I am going to listen to my doctor more and hope he can listen to me too.”

  • “What was really important to me today was to increase my water intake – at least one step forward I can take today!”

  • “I learned the importance of certain blood tests and not sure if I get them – but will talk with my doctor about it!”

  • “Who knew menopause increases my risk for heart problems and strokes – not me! But because of HOCC I know more today.”

  • “Simple message for us all today – don’t smoke – don’t drink – no illegal drugs – no sugar – it’s not as hard as you may think it is – but it’s worth it!!!”

  • “I actually ate my salad today – it’s a start and eating more vegetables coild help!”

  • “Drinking water is important but today I know why!”

  • “HOCC programming is always great – thank you!”

  • “I need less stress in my life but coming to HOCC helps me relax and learn how to do my life more informed – today was great!”

  • “Love hearing about best practices and how I can translate them into doing better things for me and talking with my doctor about options.”

  • “Risk factors for heart disease was really important to hear about!”

  • “Everything was really helpful and I learned things I want to talk with my doctor about – It’s like being encouraged that my input is important regarding my health but it never seems there is time to talk about my agenda with my doctor!”

  • “It was really good to hear about how to manage my blood pressure.”

  • “I really need to stop smoking and I have tried so many times – smoking has helped me reduce my anxiety but I am killing my heart!”

  • “I feel like I now know about the does and don’ts about heart health and real things I can do to help my heart health – thank you Sara!”

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February 2026 ZOOM Programing

Friday, February 27th @ 11:00am – 12:00pm

“Mindful Movement”

with Ellie Enichen

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January 12, 2026

“Healthy Body Compostion”

with Allie Walpert, MSN, FNP-BC, CRN-BC

 

HOCC Getting Setup & Started

Mindful Exercise with Meghan

 

Program Discussion

 

 

 

 

 

FACES

 

VOICES

  • “Great program today lots to think about!”

  • “Sad to say I feel too old to lose weight yet I would like to – not sure I would want to take another medication.”

  • “Loved the conversation about nutrition and sleep.”

  • It’s a tough season to start up exercising but I am sure I can plan my food better.”

  • “Very interesting information about weight loss medications and talking to my own doctor and not internet options for help!”

  • “The self care question on the evaluation is a good reminder of what I am doing to stay healthy.”

  • “I don’t drive – I am a walker so that’s my daily exercise it certainly helps to know the things I am doing right.”

  • “The program was really very helpful reinforcing good diet and movement, setting goals for the year ahead.”

  • “I never thought before beyond my height and weight – very interesting conversation about all the components to my body and to a healthy weight loss – not sure about lifelong medications for weight loss.”

  • “The conversation today started me thinking about drinking water more and exercise not for weight loss but a healthier body!”

  • “Good topic to start the New Yearas we re-committ to self care and good health practices.”

  • “The speaker was great!!!”

  • “It was my first time attending – great ideas this HOCC!”

  • “HOCC always brings fresh ideas to our programming discussions – thank you.”

  • “I learned lots more than I knew about weight loss today – thank you!”

  • “Thank you I learned a lot of ideas not only about weight loss but about caring for my whole body.”

  • “Being more mindful of healthier eating habits and how it can affect other areas in my life was really intersting.”

  • “I wish there were studies available for those of us not HIV positive.”

  • “The idea of intentional exercising sounds good but I have really bad orthopedic problems – maybe we could have a program for those of us who have back, knee, leg pain and learn what we could do for safe exercising.”

  • “The whole program was great!”

  • “Weight can be such a shame-based thing, and I did not feel any today in this conversation.”

  • “Every part of HOCC from beginning to end is important!”

  • “I just enjoy coming here learning all kinds of things about my health even things I had never heard before!”

  • “Menopause causes an increase in belly fat – and that’s so heard to loose! I need to keep coming to prepare for this and all the other things I have learned at HOCC – thank you!”

  • “Great group today – thanks.”

  • “I love this program – bone, fat it was very interesting information that we all need to think about differently – now that we know.”

  • “Today was inspirational to continue my self-care journey and HOCC brings us trained medical providers that speak to us so we understand and enough time to ask our questions!”

  • “Sometimes when you get older you do forget to take care of yourself – sometimes we need a reminder about medications, eating good food, sleep, sleep, and even hygiene – thank you HOCC for our gentle reminders!”

  • “HOCC is always very helpful to me – I always get what I need from HOCC every month!”

A  Voice To Be Remembered…

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January 2026 ZOOM Programing

Friday, January 23rd @ 11:00am – 12:00pm

“Mindful Movement”

with Ellie Enichen

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December 8, 2025

“Women Living with HIV: Advances in HIV Treatment and Treatment”

with Katy Stephenson, MD, MPH

 

HOCC Getting Setup & Started

Living with HIV Updates

Jennease Hyatt, Community Liaison Gilead Sciences

Mindful Exercise with Meghan

 

Program Discussion

FACES

 

VOICES

  • “OMG thank you – best group everrrrrrr loved it!”

  • We are lucky to have HOCC who really takes care of us and brings the health and wellness discussions from the experts we really need to hear from.”

  • “The questions on the eval about HIV was a great reminder of the importance for all to know – thank you HOCC and Doctor Katy today!!!”

  • “Wow it was good to hear the updates and the hope to have a vaccine to help with prevention.

  • “It was really good to see and hear what is happening around the world and here in MA regarding people living with HIV and new infections!”

  • “I recently heard about HOCC and I came today – I was so impressed with having a doctor do the presentation and that folks from other organizations came and spoke about their program – who does that? The vipe at HOCC is amazing and welcoming to all!”

  • “If I were to say something to a person newly diagnosed with HIV I would tell them there is love on the other side of that news and you will find it here at HOCC!”

  • “I don’t live with HIV but today I have the awarness and compassion for those who do – HOCC helped me with that!”

  • “I love hearing from not only the speaker but all of the women who share their voice, knowledge and strength with us!”

  • I am glad we did a program for world AIDS day and even if others don’t do it next year – HOCC will.”

  • “I have been so anxious about the direction of HIV prevention and treatment for the future – I appreciate the open discussion – if we don’t have medication for all then we don’t have health and wellness for any one!!!”

  • “Great program today – it is so cool we hear from doctors from different hospitals and clinics to learn the views from all health care in Boston.”

  • “It was really important to hear that our president has a direct affect on my health and wellness and I never knew that before – I thought the health organizations like the CDC, research and my doctor were in charge of what was best for our health.”

  • “I did not know that we might someday be able to have a vaccine to prevent HIV which would be great for my grandchildren, this is so wonderful!”

  • “It’s so good meeting new people coming to HOCC It really does feel like family.”

  • “I liked how HIV could be prevented someday like we have done with COVID-19.”

  • “Today was a sobering conversation hearing about the statistics, facts, and the reality of HIV and that new infections are is still happening even in MA and possibly a reduction of medication could prevent it but it could be challenges to access medications to prevent and treat.”

  • “I love coming to HOCC and learning at least on new thing each time I come.”

  • “The changes in HIV prevention which used to be a dedicated attempt to help all at risk for HIV might be changing and I want to help!” ================================================

  • December 2025 ZOOM Programing

    Tuesday December 23rd @ 11:00am – 12:00pm

  •  “Mindful Movement”

    with Ellie Enichen