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The official monthly newsletter of the Los Angeles County Department of Military and Veterans Affairs |
SEPTEMBER 2026
ISSUE 9 | VOL 2 |
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Peer Helps Veteran Rehouse After Fire
After the Eaton Fire left Gary Davis in unsafe housing, VPAN Squad Leader and fellow Navy veteran Brock Milhorn guided him as he navigated the path toward better housing.
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New Laws Support Those Who Served
 Five new California laws expand property tax relief, strengthen veterans services and add protections for military families and students, with changes beginning in 2027.
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VPAN Strengthens Digital Access
 VPAN, students and community partners worked with veterans to build digital skills and navigate VA tools during Operation Access Granted through hands-on assistance.
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USC Study Shows CVSO Impact
 A USC study published this month found veterans reported improvements in health, financial security, housing stability and quality of life after working with CVSOs.
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Featured Event
 VA Long Beach Women’s Health and Cancer Program is hosting its Annual Breast Cancer Risk Reduction & Screening Event. Veterans can learn about breast cancer risk reduction and screening, visit the mammography suite, and enjoy refreshments and a tostada bar.
The event takes place Oct. 1 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Tibor Rubin VA Medical Center in Long Beach.
 The 7th Annual Heroes in the Shadows Stand Down connects veterans, service members and military families with services, resources and community support. Attendees can access VA claims assistance, housing support, health and wellness resources, employment services, legal assistance and more.
Heroes in the Shadows is Oct. 17, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at VFW Post 10218 in El Monte.
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All Events this Month
Events listed reflect those MVA | VPAN will be hosting or participating in.
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August 2026 Monthly
Award Winners
LA County Veteran Service Award winners gain recognition, advance to the quarterly competition, and boost their professional profiles.
Unit:
MVA HQ Veterans Services Division
Unit Supervisor:
Leo Chirinos (VPAN SD1 - JVS SoCal)
Veterans Services Representative:
Keith Niesen (MVA)
MVA Support Service Staff:
Bob Hope Patriotic Hall Security Guards (Allied Universal)
Peer Support Specialist:
Ramon Nevarez (VPAN SD1 – JVS SoCal)
Support Line Agent:
Gladys Romero (MVA)
DMH VMFS Support Service Staff:
Cindy Farias
Non-Profit Leader:
Jesus Torres (JVS SSVF)
Community Partner:
Rebecca Ricci (Village for Vets)
Success Story:
Isabella Juarez (MVA)
Volunteer:
Sky Lanier (Disabled American Veterans)
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Honorable Mentions
This category recognizes nominees who have already won the same category during the current fiscal year and are therefore ineligible to win again.
Unit:
VPAN SD1 - JVS SoCal
Individual Spotlight
Joel Castellanos
Veterans Services Representative III
"THATS THE ONLY OFFICE THAT WAS SINCERELY CONCERNED ABOUT MY SITUATION I FILED IN JULY 2023 AND GOT NO WHERE THANKS TO MR. JOEL I HAVE SOME HOPE IN OUR VETERANS SYSTEM."
— Kenneth Mcadory
Veteran who received services at Bob Hope Patriotic Hall
MVA Appoints VSR III Leads to Strengthen Veterans Services
Three VSR III Leads are stepping into expanded roles to strengthen coordination, communication and support across MVA teams.
Joel Castellanos will lead at Bob Hope Patriotic Hall, Vrezh Grigoryan will support Supervisorial Districts 2, 3 and 5, and Reymundo Borjon will support Districts 1 and 4.
In their new roles, they support fellow VSRs, provide technical guidance, share solutions and help teams stay connected.
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Spotlight on Benefits & Services |
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Understand VA Pensions
 VA pension benefits provide monthly payments to eligible wartime veterans and survivors who meet age, disability, net worth and other requirements. Additional payments may be available for those who need help with daily activities or are housebound.
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Access TSA Honor Lanes
 TSA offers dedicated military lanes or front-of-the-line service at more than 30 airports, including LAX. Service members, veterans and their families can use these screening privileges by showing a valid military or veteran ID, with no uniform required.
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Track Benefit & Service Changes
Changes to public benefits and services can be hard to track. Stay informed about health and social programs, key dates, deadlines, and LA County resources.
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 On Sept. 26, the U.S. Korea Alliance Association and SS Lane Victory Maritime Center commemorated the Korean War and honored those who opened the road from Chosin Reservoir to Hungnam Harbor.
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 Veterans Stand Together brought employment opportunities, benefits assistance and community resources to veterans, service members and their families Sept. 25 at the Henry C. Gonzalez Auditorium in South Gate.
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 The Veterans Resource & Education Fair on Sept. 25 brought veteran services and resources to Tibor Rubin VA Medical Center in Long Beach, with MVA and VPAN SD2 – SHARE! providing information and support.
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 VPAN SD1 – JVS SoCal hosted Operation Access Granted at the TELACU VUB Center on Sept. 25, helping veterans create ID.me accounts and access VA documents and online resources.
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 Women veterans participated in a Sept. 23 watch party at VA Greater Los Angeles in West Los Angeles, exploring mental health across the lifespan through lived experiences and VA and community resources.
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 September’s Veterans Advisory Commission meeting on Sept. 16 at Bob Hope Patriotic Hall featured a Department of Public Health update, discussion of issues affecting veterans and public comment.
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 Veterans and American Legion leaders commemorated Patriot Day Sept. 11 at Bob Hope Patriotic Hall, honoring nearly 3,000 lives lost on 9/11 and recognizing the courage and sacrifice of those who responded.
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 USC research presented Sept. 10 at Bob Hope Patriotic Hall highlighted the impact of County Veterans Service Officers, service capacity challenges and state efforts to strengthen veteran services across California.
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 MVA and VPAN Staff Training Day on Sept. 10 at National University focused on professional development, early intervention and expanding knowledge of community resources supporting veterans and their families.
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 A newly renovated P.I.E.R. Center opened Sept. 2 at the Tibor Rubin VA Medical Center in Long Beach, giving veterans access to showers, food, phone services, family connections and community and VA resources.
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 MVA and partners from across Los Angeles County met Sept. 1 at Bob Hope Patriotic Hall to strengthen collaboration on Veteran suicide prevention, early intervention and timely connections to care.
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 Follow @LACMVA on social media for the latest veteran news, upcoming events, benefit updates, community resources and stories from across Los Angeles County. Stay informed about new opportunities, important updates and resources for veterans, service members and their families.
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