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National Alliance on Mental Illness
Pomona Valley Affiliate
December Newsletter 2025
Helpline: (909) 399-0305
Available 9am to 9pm
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Family Support Group is here to connect you with families and friends who also have a loved one in their life that is suffering from a mental illness.
We are here to support you!
We are in this together!
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El Grupo de Apoyo familiar esta aquí para conectarte con familias y amistades de personas que sufren de una enfermedad de salud mental.
Estamos aquí para apoyarte!
Juntos se puede!
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Every 1st Tuesday of the Month
Cada primer martes del mes
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ENGLISH GROUP
WHEN:
December 2, 2025
6:15pm - 7:30pm
WHERE:
Claremont United Church
of Christ
233 Harrison Ave
Claremont CA, 91711
Upper Room - Upstairs
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GRUPO EN ESPANOL
CUANDO:
2 de Diciembre de 2025
6:15pm - 7:30pm
DONDE:
Claremont United Church
of Christ
233 Harrison Ave
Claremont CA, 91711
En el "Library"
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3rd Tuesdays of the every month
December 16th, 2025
6:15pm - 7:30pm
Claremont United Church of Christ
233 Harrison Ave
Claremont CA, 91711
Room 208 - Upstairs
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3rd Wednesdays of every month
Cada tercer miércoles del mes
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English Group
December 17th, 2025
7pm- 8:30pm
Location:
Holy Name of Mary Catholic Church
724 E Bonita Ave,
San Dimas, CA 91773
Faith Formation (FF) Room 204-205
Here are the dates for 2025:
December 17, 2025
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Grupo en Español
17 de Diciembre, 2025
7pm- 8:30pm
Lugar:
Holy Name of Mary Catholic Church
724 E Bonita Ave,
San Dimas, CA 91773
Faith Formation(FF) Room 204-205
Próximas fechas para 2025:
Diciembre 17, 2025
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PEER SUPPORT
GROUPS - CONNECTION
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NAMI Connection is a recovery support group program that offers respect, understanding, encouragement and hope. This group is a confidential and safe support group for adults living with mental health issues.
NAMI Connection groups are:
- Free and confidential
- Held weekly for 90 minutes
- Designed to connect, encourage, and support participants using a structured support group model
- Led by trained facilitators living in recovery themselves
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IN PERSON
WHEN:
1st and 3rd Friday of every month
6:30pm – 8:00pm
WHERE:
United Church of Christ
233 Harrison Ave, corner of Harvard – 2nd floor in the
Upper Room
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VIRTUAL
WHEN:
2nd and 4th or 5th Friday of every month
6:30pm – 8:00pm
WHERE:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/628987619
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NAMI education classes and training programs are held throughout the year. Class seating is limited and fill quickly. Training programs are offered upon availability. Please fill out this contact form to be notified when registration for classes become available or for training program availability.
Sign-up on namipv.org for class notifications!
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"Do you have a loved one living with a mental health condition? Do you have questions about how to support, communicate with and advocate for them? Are you looking for connection with other family members like you? Join us for our next Family to Family class at NAMI Pomona Valley!
For more info and registration contact Kyoni
kyoni@namipv.org or call/text (909) 258-9864
An 8 week course for family members and caregivers of individuals afflicted with severe mental illness, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression. Teachers are trained family members guided by a curriculum prepared and regularly updated by the national offices of NAMI. The course covers research to date on causes of mental illness, plus treatment and recovery programs as well as communication and coping skills.
Other classes
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Upcoming Events In the Pomona Valley
We’re excited to invite you to three of our most popular and community-loved events this December! Whether you’re looking to meet new people, get creative, or just enjoy some cozy winter vibes, there’s something here for you.
In My Adulting Era: Speed Friending!
Wednesday, December 3rd
4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
Come join us for a fun, fast-paced social experience where you can meet new friends, laugh, and build connections in a welcoming environment. It’s one of our most energetic events—perfect if you’re new or bringing someone along!
Art Class for Adults: Snowflake & Wreath Activity
Saturday, December 6th
5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
Get in the holiday spirit with a festive, hands-on art class! We’ll provide all materials—just bring your creativity and get ready to craft something beautiful for the winter season.
ZINE Workshop: What’s the Best Format for Your Zine?
Thursday, December 4th
4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
If you love art, writing, or self-expression, this workshop is the perfect way to dive into zine-making. Learn formats, get inspired, and create something that represents your voice.
All events are free, open to the community, and designed to be fun, interactive, and welcoming. Bring a friend—or meet one there!
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See's Candies Fundraiser
We’re excited to partner with See’s Candies for a delicious fundraiser! When you purchase your favorite treats through our link, a portion of the proceeds goes directly to supporting our mental health programs and services.
Your sweet tooth can help bring hope, education, and support to our community.
Thank you for helping us make a difference—one chocolate at a time!
Order Holiday Treats here!
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EL RANCHERO FUNDRAISER
Bring your friends and family for a delicious meal, and a portion of your bill will be donated to support NAMI Pomona Valley, supporting mental health education, support, and education in our community.
EL RANCHERO MEXICAN FOOD
984 W Foothill Blvd. Claremont, CA 91711
Thursday, December 4th
4-10pm
Mention NAMI or show this flyer when you order.
Every bite makes a difference—together we can create hope and change!
For more information, visit www.namipv.org
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PANERA FUNDRAISER
Join us in supporting NAMI Pomona Valley!
Stop by Panera Bread in Upland on 19th St. on December 12th from 4:00pm to 8:00pm and enjoy your favorite meal while making a difference. A portion of proceeds will go directly toward helping us provide mental health education, support, and resources to our community.
Every bite helps us continue our mission of hope and healing.
Thank you for standing with us!
Use code FUND4U at panerabread.com, in the Panera App, or at the kiosk in-cafe.
30% of net sales with be donated!
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Light of Life Fundraiser
Light of Life is a student-run business operating through the
University of La Verne. Founded by a group of 6 college students, Light of Life is an aromatherapy candle business with a clear mission in mind: Light of Life operates as a nonprofit — 100% of proceeds are donated to a mental health charity called the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).
The team chose to partner with this charity because they feel that their values closely align and they hope to use their brand as a vehicle to expand
NAMI’s impact. Order now!
Contact Us: lightoflifelv25@gmail.com
Phone : 661-634-5694
Instagram: @lightoflife.lv
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Looking for a Job? Contact Pomona Jobs project!
FREE 4-week program
- One on one Sessions
- Professional resumes
- Tips and mock interviews
- Learn about worker's rights
- Job recommendations
Heidi Carranza *Bilingual: English/Spanish
hcarranza@latinolatinaroundtable.org
909-542-5080
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A Groundbreaking Podcast Just Released, Telling Stigma-free Stories about Serious Mental Illness
Brain Stories is a 13-episode limited series capturing deeply personal stories of those living with a mental illness, and the people who support them. These are universal tales, profiling individuals of many backgrounds. They pull back the curtain on mental illness and tell authentic life-stories from the inside. These accounts reveal that the biggest challenges often come from the most surprising places. But so do the greatest triumphs.
Welcome to stigma-free storytelling!
The first episode was released October 23rd. (Spoiler alert: it tells the story of someone many in NAMI are familiar with: Dr. Xavier Amador. But so much of his story was untold). New episodes will be released every 2 weeks into April, 2025.
You can find episodes now at the website, BrainStoriesProductions.com or anywhere you get your podcasts.
Each episode is about 30 minutes in length. The series is hosted by Frank Kosa, an award-winning documentary filmmaker, and family-to-family facilitator. It's executive produced by Frank Kosa and Janet Yang, a leader in the motion picture industry and award-winning feature film and television producer, also a family-to-family facilitator. Episode Producers include two renowned psychiatrists, Dr. Ruth Shim and Dr. Mark Ragins, as well as award-winning audio producer, Boen Wang, and mental health advocate, writer and NAMI WLA board member, Sarah Haufrect.
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NAMI Podcasts and Webinars are for people interested in learning more about mental health. Listen in to learn more about personal stories of hope and recovery, expert advice and research, and strategies for ending stigma and living well.
You can find additional episodes of this NAMI podcast and others
Podcast & Webinar Link
Hope Starts With Us :
How Food Nourishes Mental Well-being
Episode 85
Every one of us has taken solace in “comfort food” before and knows how much what we eat can impact our moods. In this episode, NAMI CEO Daniel H. Gillison, Jr. speaks with Carla Hall, a chef, host, and author. After recently participating in an episode of Celebrity Family Feud benefitting NAMI, Carla joined Dan to talk about her mental health journey and current projects, as well as how food can support mental well-being and keep memories alive.
You can find additional episodes of this NAMI podcast and others at nami.org/podcast.
Podcast Link
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Hope is Key to a Meaningful Life
Hope isn’t just wishful thinking — it’s a powerful emotional force that gives our lives meaning. Now, a new groundbreaking study from the University of Missouri shows it may be even more essential to well-being than happiness or gratitude.
For years, psychology has tied hope to goal-setting and motivation. But a team of researchers led by Megan Edwards and Laura King from Mizzou’s Department of Psychological Sciences is challenging that idea, showing that hope stands apart as one of the strongest positive emotions that directly fosters a sense of meaning.
"Our research shifts the perspective on hope from merely a cognitive process related to goal attainment to recognizing it as a vital emotional experience that enriches life's meaning," said Edwards, who earned a doctorate at Mizzou and is now a postdoctoral scholar at Duke University. “This insight opens new avenues for enhancing psychological well-being.”
Using six studies with more than 2,300 participants from diverse backgrounds, the team analyzed a range of emotions, including amusement, contentment, excitement and happiness. The findings consistently demonstrated that only hope consistently predicted a stronger sense of meaning.
Experiencing meaning in life is a central aspect of psychological functioning, predicting a host of important outcomes, such as happiness, better quality relationships, better physical health and higher income, King, a Curators’ Distinguished Professor of Psychological Sciences, said.
“Experiencing life as meaningful is crucial for just about every good thing you can imagine in a person's life,” King said. “This cornerstone of psychological functioning is not a rare experience — it is available to people in their everyday lives and hope is one of the things that make life feel meaningful.”
University of Missouri Research - Article LINK
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Become a Member and Help fight Stigma!
NAMI Membership Dues:
Are you Current? Donations and membership are actually tax deductible!
Household Membership $60.00
Individual Membership $40.00
Open Doors Membership $ 5.00
Membership benefits include:
- Our flagship magazine, The NAMI Advocate
- Membership with NAMI National, NAMI California, and our Pomona Valley Affiliate
- Voting privileges
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Discounts at the NAMI Store and on registration at the NAMI National Convention
- Access to all the information and features on the NAMI.org website and more
CLICK HERE - Become a member or gift a membership today!
NAMI National is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization and your donation is tax-deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law. To claim a donation as a deduction on your U.S. taxes, please keep your email donation receipt as your official record. We'll send it to you upon successful
completion of your donation.
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Interested in Advocacy?
Want to get involved with mental health advocacy in Los Angeles County? NAMI Greater Los Angeles County (GLAC) can help you get started!
Visit NAMIPV.org/County-Advocacy
You will learn about:
· NAMI GLAC’s vision and public policy priorities
· The monthly General & Criminal Justice Advocacy Committee meeting
· Los Angeles County, State, and National advocacy actions
· CARE Act, CARE Court, and SB43
· Advocacy-focused webinar recordings
· How you can become an advocacy subject matter expert
You can also sign up here to receive NAMI GLAC advocacy alters.
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Connect with Hope - Warmline
Whether you need emotional support, help finding resources, or just a moment of connection,
NAMI GLAC's Connect with Hope Warmline is here for you.
Our Certified Peer Support Specialists provide free, confidential, empathetic support which honors your journey and empowers you to find hope & healing.
📅 Hours: Mon. - Fri. 10 AM - 8 PM and Saturday, 10 AM - 2 PM
📞 Phone: (818) 208-1801
💌 Email: Hope@NAMIGLAC.org
💻 Web: NAMIGLAC.org/ Warmline
🗣️ ¡Hablamos español! Marque
(818) 208-1801 y presione #2.
Conoce Especialista Elizabeth aquí
No matter your background or where you are in your mental health journey, you’ll find a welcoming voice ready to support you on the Connect with
Hope Warmline!
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Peer Support Specialist
Let NAMI Greater Los Angeles County (GLAC) help you take your first step into a paid or volunteer role supporting the mental health of your fellow Los Angeles residents by earning your Peer Support Specialist Training Certification!
Peer Support Specialists https://www.samhsa.gov/technical-assistance/brss-tacs/peer-support-worker leverage their own lived experiences living with or supporting someone with a mental health and/or substance use challenge to provide support to others experiencing similar challenges.
Your lived experiences can help break down barriers and offer a level of validation, understanding, and acceptance not found in other professional relationships.
Learn more and sign up at NAMIGLAC.org/PSS
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If you have any questions please feel free
to call the NAMI Pomona Valley Helpline: (909) 399-0305
Available 9am to 9pm
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!!Volunteers Needed!!
Volunteers are integral to the success of NAMI Pomona Valley.
We are currently looking for:
Helpline Volunteers
In person/ Info Table/ Community Volunteers
Peer presenter Volunteers
More details about peer presenters click here
Please fill out this form if you are interested: VOLUNTEER FORM
You may also contact the office for more details.
Phone: (909) 625-2383
Email: admin@namipv.org
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If you Need Help Reach out
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