Southern CA Regional Message – March 2022
My name is Margarita Rodriguez and I am the Senior Regional Manager for Southern California. Below is my message to you for the month of March 2022.
Hello Burn Survivors, families, and kiddos!
Who is ready for some Lions, Tigers and Bears – Oh My?!? AARBF will be hosting the in-person Southern CA LA Zoo event this year. This event will be held on Saturday, April 2, 2022. So, prepare for a wonderful day in the sun! Registration will be due on March 18, 2022 so look out for more information on the AARBF Facebook page. Also, in the month of February we had a good turnout for the So Cal Support group on the first Sunday of the month. So, let’s keep the momentum going- invite your peeps and come out to have a great time with other BS and supporters!
If you are a burn survivor and family member and wish to be added to our monthly email, please email [email protected] and indicate your region.
Writing Expression
March 24, 2022
Join us for Writing Expression featuring guest host Andrew “Monkey” Mersmann. Writing Expression will be held on Thursday, March 24, 2022, at 7:00pm PT via Zoom.
Andrew will be focusing this session on “Writing to Inspire Others.” He’ll discuss how you can create uplifting content through many forms of writing including blogging, books, letters, notes and even your social media posts!
All burn survivors, family members and supporters are welcome to attend this session. Reservations are due by March 22, 2022.
Click here to register.
Southern California Los Angeles Zoo Trip
April 2, 2022
We hope that you will join us for a fun-filled day at the Los Angeles Zoo on Saturday, April 2, 2022. Hang out with your friends from camp, see and learn about lots of animals and enjoy lunch on us! The Los Angeles Zoo trip is open to Southern California burn survivors ages 5-17.
Click here to learn more about this event and to register.
March Survivor Events
Southern CA Ski Trip – March 4-6 (registration is closed)
Women’s Empowerment Weekend – March 19-20 (registration closes March 4, 2022)
March Support Groups
Southern California – March 6, 2022 from 1:30pm – 3:30pm. This is an in-person regional support group open to both survivors and their family members. Currently this group is meeting virtually, but will convert back to an in-person group as soon as it is safe to do so. Contact me at [email protected] to register.
Caregiver – March 3, 2022 from 7:00pm – 8:30pm. This is an online state-wide support group for family members, care givers and loved ones of burn survivors. This group is closed to burn survivors. To register, please contact Daniel Chacon at [email protected].
Spanish Speaking – March 15, 2022 from 7:00pm – 8:30pm. This is an online support group specifically designed for Spanish-speaking burn survivors. Contact me at [email protected] to register.
Statewide – March 17, 2022 from 7:00pm – 8:30pm. This is an online support group open to both burn survivors and their loved ones throughout California. To register, please contact Daniel Chacon at [email protected].
Peer Support – Not everyone is comfortable in a group setting, which is why the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation offers one-on-one Peer Support. Peer Support is a power tool for healing from a burn trauma. There is something magical that happens when one survivor sits and shares their experience and healing process with another. Peer support can relieve the feeling of being all alone in your experience. Peer support can come in many forms; a burn survivor talking to another burn survivor, a parent talking to another parent or loved one. This service is not limited to burn survivors. A burn injury can affect the entire family, caregivers and other loved ones. Contact me at [email protected] to get started today.
Back to School Support (available upon request) – Contact me at [email protected] to learn more about this program.
Featured Videos
AARBF’s Multimedia Resource Library includes tip sheets, videos, stories, and so much more. Video content within the library has been developed by the AARBF Community; including our staff, volunteers, burn survivors and community partners! Below are our featured videos for March!
Body Image
Body image is such a difficult topic for burn survivors who have visual differences as a result of their trauma. This video will talk about the issue of body image and some new ways to look at it.
Vision Board
A great way to re-center yourself and refocus is to create a vision board. A vision board is a sheet of paper with your goals, dreams and aspirations laid out.
Creating Fiction with Monkey
Get prepped for this month’s Writing Expression by watching what Andrew shared when he last hosted the Writing Expression session.