Faces and Voices of HOCC Part Two

The Journey Continues…

Faces and Voices Part Two—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 Two–The Journey Continues!

Faces and Voices: January 2025 – December 2025

January 13, 2025

“Oral Health = Overall Health”

with Henry M. Goldman: B.U. School of Dental Medicine

January Zoom Programming:

Friday,  January 20th @ 1:00-2:00pm

“Mindful Movement” with Ellie Enichen

Ellie Enichen

Monday, January 31st @ 12:00-1:00pm

“Empowering Women to Engage in Their Health Care”

with Tamara Jimah, PhD

Tamara Jimah

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Faces and Voices: January 2024 – December 2024

December 9, 2024

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

with Katy Stephenson, MD, MPH

Program Discussion:

 

Faces

See you next in 2025!

Voices

  • “I have been HIV positive for 30 years and the best part of today was learning even more about HIV!  Thank you HOCC for bringing the best to teach us all day long.”

  • “I liked learning new details about HIV!”

  • “The statistics were unbelievable, but HIV is going down which is so good – great to hear!”

  • What is so cool about “women living with, affected by, and at risk for HIV” is that we are all in the room at HOCC togther and it feels very safe to learn and just be without shame or stigma – thank you HOCC!”

  • “So helpful and reinforcing safe sex starts with me taking care of me first. First thing First!!!”

  • “I have lived with HIV for now 50Years and I am still learning about HIV!”

  • “This program was so helpful, and I am where I should be with my HOCC sisters!”

  • “Today was great hearing the real facts from study results from Doctor Katy – thank you!”

  • “What hit home for me was hearing about how HIV is still so active around the world for women and their children.””

  • “Hearing from the doctor about real choices regarding medication options for today and maybe in the future.”

  • “What was so helpful was just being here. Knowledge is power – Thank you. I traveled over two hours via bus, train and walk to get this information.”

  • “Please come to HOCC meetings and get information to help your own health and prevent spreading the virus. Thank you for this information it is important for everyone to hear.”

  • “So many things I heard today was so important – mostly about medication options – I will be talking with my doctor!”

  • “Very interesting to hear that HIV has no cure just treatment – and that the virus is always there even if the blood work shows it’s undetectable!”

  • “Thank you very informative today. This program is necessary – I share information about HIV to my community after each program at HOCC.”

  • “Please we really need to take care of ourselves – we are important!”

  • “I love coming to this meeting and see the rest of HOCC women.”

  • “What is so important here at HOCC is that we are encouraged to ask questions, share information, help each other with all that we know and be open to learn more.”

  • “Thank you HOCC for your life support wellness community.”

  • “The speakers are always very informative!”

  • “Thank you HOCC look forward to 2025!”

  • “This whole program was so informative and clear, and we could all understand.”

  • “This program is always very informative and often my doctor does not have the time to talk with me or explain in details about my health and my choices.”

  • “The best things at HOCC is being around women from all walks of life and and learning the new information regarding HIV treatment and prevention.”

  • “Presentations are always the best – I learned much more as the world moves forward with new research.”

  • “Great guest speaker!!!”

  • “I always leave with something every month – thank you.”

  • As always, HOCC makes it easy to learn about new things – necessary things from those who are the experts in each field of medicine – look forward to hearing more in 2025.

_

December Zoom Programming:

Friday, December 27th @ 1:00-2:00pm

“Mindful Movement” with Ellie Enichen

Ellie Enichen

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November 11, 2024

“Reflection, Gratitude, and Self Care: Understanding My Health and HIV”

with Gloria Searson, MSW

Program Discussion

 

 

FACES

 

 

VOICES:

  • “Thank you! HOCC gives me something to look forward to each month and even in-between with texts and phone conversations.”

  • “I am grateful just being alive – watering my plants and my soul!”

  • “Connecting to each other every month – friendships and love is all about HOCC!”

  • “HOCC is a safe place and everyone is so friendly and so supportive!”

  • “I am so thankful to hear other people share their life with me and others living with HIV and I know from HOCC about prevention so I know what to do if I get with someone.”

  • “Gloria is always fabulous! It was a treat to have her back at HOCC again!”

  • “I don’t get around like I used to or see and hang out with people like I did before COVID – HOCC helps me be with my friends and feel connected like coming home to Thanksgiving dinner each month.”

  • “HOCC means to me that I am cared for and loved. I am supported 24 hours a day! I am so lucky to be in such a wonderful organization. HOCC means everything to me!”

  • “This was an excellent learning experience! The speaker lineup is always awesome!”

  • “I am grateful for being here today!”

  • “It’s an inspiration to be at HOCC that somehow has successfully created a sisterhood of women living with HIV and not with no shame between us – we embrace this sisterhood together as we learn about services, community, and room for self-love!”

  • “I am learning to be part of a community and be self-efficient at the same time at HOCC!”

  • “HOCC has helped me to become educated on the illnesses as well as myself. HOCC has taught how to understand the medications, how they work in my body and my responsibilities to make it all work.”

  • “HOCC gives me a purpose each month to get out of the house and come here, see my sisters and get some love and feel loved and know I will do it again next month!”

  • “HOCC means to me to have a safe space to connect with other women who are going through the same issues I am.”

  • “I’m grateful to be with my friends and family today!”

  • “HOCC gets me up and out each month to learn and see my family!”

  • “HOCC is true to life – a mission of healing me and our community – I looked forward to each month – we learn something new each month from the speakers and resources or from eachother!”

  • “I am grateful that I’m alive because I’ve been living with HIV for 24 years and being here at HOCC.”

  • “HOCC is a place of comfort and feeling alive!”

  • “I am blessed I can come to HOCC every second Monday of the month!”

  • “HOCC – simply the BEST!”

  • “Thank you for being such a wonderful program!”

  • “HOCC is a community – a community of healing, health, friendship, and advocacy.”

  • “HOCC is everything – seeing my lady friends and smiling all day long!”

  • “HOCC means to me a life saved!”

  • “HOCC has allowed me to focus on myself and share and care for my wellbeing – still going and growing.”

  • “Before I came to HOCC, I felt very alone. When I came here I felt connected, loved, excepted as who I was and now HOCC is a very important part of my life! Your FAMILY!”

  • “Thank you Gloria, your strength is powerful and deeply felt – hope you come back soon!”

 

November ZOOM Programming:

Monday, November 18th @ 12:30-1:30pm

“Mindful Wellness” with Meghan Feldpausch, NP

Meghan Feldpausch, NP

Friday, November 29th @ 1:00-2:00pm

“Mindful Movement” with Ellie Enichen

Ellie Enichen

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First Thing First…

HOCC The VOTE!

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October 21,  2024

Third Monday of October because of Holiday

“Addiction, Journey, and Recovery”

with HOCC’s Special Panel

Speaker Panel:

Program Discussion:

                                   

FACES

VOICES

  • “Addiction is REAL and we are all affected by it whether it’s me directly or my family, my partner, my work and we all need help to recover from it!”

  • “Thank you HOCC this program was wonderful – maybe the best because we heard from our sisters directly!”

  • “Everything was so helpful – and the slides hit home how many struggle with all kinds of addictions.”

  • “The handout is great with all the resources for addiction out there – bringing this home to share.”

  • “What was most helpful was understanding how we are all affected by addictions one way or another – thank you.”

  • “The information was great and the slides, the women’s stories, and take home handout made it all real and helpful!”

  • “Everything was great this month – helpful – the panel and the slideshow of stats was great.”

  • “Sharing the information and experiences is HOCC – thank you.”

  • “I didn’t use drugs but hearing the women’s stories made me more grateful and I understand just how hard it would have been if I had to live through that as well.”

  • “It’s always helpful to be at HOCC and just being in the room.”

  • “It was wonderful to understand more about just how hard it is living with addictions and how my son struggles and gives me hope things could change for him.”

  • “I stopped drinking 25 years ago and was able to stop with Jesus and my children – help is out there for all of us – today or tomorrow and however you get there – it’s a better life without using.”

  • “The information and stories were so helpful – I have 2 of my 3 children suffer from drug addiction – both are sober now!”

  • “I learned how to ask and accept help.”

  • “I have addictions in my family and hearing about risk factors and the severity of addictions was most helpful for me.”

  • “I’m a recovering alcohol and drug user and clean for 30 years – today confirmed me to stay positive and stay on the straight and narrow path!”

  • “I loved the whole program – learned a lot from the panel – great job!”

  • “We are stronger than addiction – never give up!”

  • “My addiction was gambling – 25 years – we lost everything and it gives me chills just thinking about it. The panel was so helpful and even at 82 years old, maybe next time I would speak on the panel and help others when they are young.”

  • “Addiction can happen to everyone – one way or another.”

  • “I have a family history – my mom and two siblings had severe alcoholism and early on I learned what I didn’t want to be! The program was both lovely and heartbreaking and love that these wonderful ladies shared their survival stories!”

  • “There is always so much information and experiences to learn from at HOCC – today was fantastic!”

  • “Most helpful was hearing the successful life stories.”

  • “Women speaking their truth…so brave to share their stories – Good Job!!!”

  • “Thank you for this vital information today – amazing help!”

  • “The statistics were jaw dropping – couldn’t believe that so many people have some kind of addiction!”

  • “Very moving panel of speakers – was excellent!”

  • “Amazing the honesty and stories from the women and knowing there’s safety in sharing at HOCC.”

  • “This was the greatest HOCC! Women’s voices are so powerful!”

  • “So important – a reminder of how far I have come!”

  • “Every part was so amazing!”

  • “It’s so important to allow yourself – give yourself permission, to experience the journey – good, bad, or indifferent!”

  • “I always learn something new at HOCC every month.”

  • “Seeing what alcohol did to my brother prevented me from using – hearing today’s stories was enlightening and so helpful.”

  • “HOCC and the women are so strong!”

OCTOBER ZOOM Programming:

October 25, 2024 – 11:00am – 12:00pm

“Mindful Movement” with Ellie Enichen

Ellie Enichen

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Faces and Voices: September 2024

September 9,  2024

“Let’s Talk Menopause – Midlife Women’s Health”

with Sara Looby, PhD, ANP-BC, FAAN

  Sara Dolan Looby

“First Thing First: – Celebrating Sara!

 KEEPING THE BEAT FOR  HOCC WOMEN
HEALTH THROUGH WISDOM AND LEADERSHIP

Program Discussion:

 

     

       

     

FACES

 

 

VOICES

  • “I always learn something when I attend this inspiring group of women!”

  • “I love that we always talk about women’s health – today about hormones, the frustration, and the value of vitamin E”.

  • “This program was very helpful – a few things that I heard really made sense to me like how long menopause will last, my mood swings which I never had before or even depression, and changes is my cognition which I have been worried about. It is also good to know about vitamin E! I guess I will have another conversation with my doctor about what I learned about me – he always says to me when I come in with questions – “you’ve been at HOCC again”.

  • “I liked our open discussion about symptoms – things that I have had but now know they were related to menopause.”

  • “Hot Flashes – not so hot to me! Thanks for the fans.”

  • “Knowledge is power – and now I know – not looking forward to it but I feel like I am ”

  • “All of the information was real and very good.”

  • “Where else would anyone hear these conversations about women’s health like we do at HOCC – for women, by women, about women – that’s us!”

  • The program was excellent! So glad to be here – so grateful for Sara and her slides and Q&A!”

  • “What was most helpful is now understanding about mood swings after menopause – not so helpful was learning that some people have symptoms for years! OUCH!!!”

  • “It’s about time the correct information is available!”

  • What was so helpful was all of the information on the body – organs and the acknowledgement of menopause related anxiety, depression, and short term memory.”

  • “I need to get real – I dress to look good but I really need to dress lighter first then look good – sweaty does not look good on anyone!”

  • “I wish HOCC was around when I went through menopause – no one spoke about it nor really knew anything about it – it was really difficult!!!”

  • “Good that we talked about dryness – big problem for me.”

  • “Everything was so helpful!!!”

  • “Learning about mood swings – I thought it might be something else.”

  • “Estrogen information was very helpful – thank you!”

  • The whole program was GREAT!”

  • “Information regarding the female body and hormones working and not in the body – best tips for great sleep!”

  • “From the start to finish – every part of HOCC is valuable!”

September ZOOM Programming:

September 16th

“Smoking Cessation”

Allison Futter

September  27th

“Mindful Movement” with Ellie Enichen

Ellie Enichen

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Faces and Voices: August 2024

August 12,  2024

“Food Is Medicine”

with Jasmine Norris, MPH, RD, LDN  –  Community Servings

Jasmine Norris

Program Discussion:

FACES

VOICES

  • “This year we have been talking about food and how to prepare healthy meals and today we learned how we can get the foods to our plates to eat healthy – thank you!”

  • “Thank you – really interesting to talk about finding resources locally that I can use SNAP or even free!!!”

  • “Vegetables and fruits are so expensive and difficult to find them on sale – heard some good solutions.”

  • “The whole program was great and wonderful and great hearing about Community Servings programs”.

  • “I receive Community Servings weekly and the soups are fabulous!”

  • “The whole program was great – thanks!”

  • The best was talking about food resources and how to prepare them too!”

  • “We start learning about the topic from the monthly flyer to feeling more empowered by now knowing – thank you HOCC.”

  • “I love the idea of food as medicine.”

  • “Great to talk about healthy dietary eating habits and patterns – understanding this makes sense.”

  • Hearing about food resources around town was the best!”

  • “The most helpful thing was learning that I can qualify for food resources and where to get them.”

  • Understanding what and when I eat also can affect my health.”

  • “Awarness is so powerful!”

  • “Everything was so helpful from beginning until the end – thank you HOCC!”

  • “We often don’t have enough food and certainly not healthy food to feed the family and today I heard how and where I can get help with feeding my family – thank you!”

  • “Love the new way of making different foods – I just need to stay on track”

  • “All of my questions were answered and the questions we all asked certainly helped all of us.”

  • “Learning about healthy eating and the value of food was heard – thank you!”

  • “It’s always good to have good nutrition reinforced and learn about new sources for free or low-cost nutrition AND some things I have never heard about but will try them now!”

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Faces and Voices: July 2024

July 8, 2024

“Interpersonal Violence and Abuse Across the Lifespan”

with Jackie Savage Borne, LICSW

Jackie Savage Borne

Program Discussion:

Interpersonal Violence and Abuse Across the Lifespan:

A Space Together to Discuss

The Facts, The Myths and

Getting Support

FACES

HOCC’s 27th Anniversary Continues

The Beat Goes On… Leah Receives Her WHEL Team Award Today

 

Happy  Eightieth Birthday Les!!!

 

Julie always creating – day in and day out!

 

VOICES

  • “This was an excellent group today and all of the information I learned today I can use to help others”

  • “THE most soul moving moment for me was the admission of a reformed abuser. This strong BRAVE lady proved to everyone in that room that CHANGE can happen – in any circumstance.”

  • “Thank you this was great! Honestly, I thought DV was only about sexual and physical abuse but learned today there are many kinds of control and abuse like financial,  emotional, and stalking.”

  • “HOCC is really there for us for we are always able to talk about hard things and get support. “

  • “HOCC helps me to identify the important issues and provides such a safe space for our discussions.”

  • “Thank you for helping us really know about all of the signs of abusive behavior.”

  • “Just knowing that this subject is ok to be talking about and listening to the various resources.”

  • “I love how we have a place to talk openly about our lives and our health!”

  • “I love my HOCC family – all the information and conversations we have are so valuable!”

  • “Loved the framing of welcoming, non-judgmental DV discussion – very powerful sharing!”

  • HOCC and all the information we get is so wonderful!”

  • “It was really helpful to hear and now understand all of the different kinds of abuse!”

  • “The whole program was great and hearing about the different kinds of abuse and understanding the signs of abuse was so helpful!”

  • “The best part was hearing all of our stories – unfiltered and honest and safe!”

  • “HOCC is more than a support group but do we feel supported! Today was a hard conversation to hear and be heard – but it was safe for us to do it.”

  • “Today was my day and my day to speak up and take steps to report what is going on – thanks you”

  • “Several years ago when I came to HOCC the topic was domestic violence – I left my abusive marriage with my children and got help. Thank you for everything.”

  • “What was most helpful: Hurt people hurt people until they heal from their trauma.”

  • “Today realizing that you can be an abuser also, but you can get help to change.”

  • It’s ok to be ok – to be alone for your safety and to work on yourself until you are ready – I wish we had more time today to continue this conversation.”

  • “What was most helpful was HOCC’s positivity, support, and enthusiasm of the crew! Great facilitator – elicited stories and responded beautifully! Thank YOU!”

  • “Listening to everyone’s experiences and all they have overcome was very inspiring.”

  • “Every part of the program from beginning signing-in to cleaning up was great!”

  • “This was a great program with the interactions with each other’s inspiring stories.”

  • “It’s always good to hear how others take care of themselves!”

  • “All of us have had some sort of abuse over our lifetime and it was so good to hear I am not alone – thank you.”

“Mindful Movement”

Don’t Forget to Continue Your Mindful Movement Practice During Summer Zoom Break

For More Information:  file:///C:/Users/Owner/Downloads/Mindful%20Movement%20Summer%20Guide%20(2).pdf

 

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Faces and Voices: June 2024

June 10, 2024

“HOCC’s 27th Anniversary”

FACES