Attend, learn, connect , NOAGE is hosting a free Symposium on LGBTQ+ Health and Wellness on Saturday 16 May at the Ochsner Center for Academic Excellence, bringing healthcare pros, community leaders and practical resources together for a day of talks, a resource fair, and networking that matters.

Essential Takeaways

  • Free and open: The event is free to the public with registration required; breakfast and lunch are provided, making it easy to attend.
  • Wide-ranging topics: Sessions cover body image, women’s health, legal issues, end-of-life care and the benefits of social connection.
  • Professional presenters: Speakers include licensed social workers, community liaisons and attorneys offering real-world advice.
  • Continuing education: Social workers and licensed professional counsellors can earn CE credits for most sessions.
  • Resource-rich: A resource fair runs alongside talks, with local organisations and health services on hand.

Why this symposium matters now: health, community and practical help

New Orleans’ LGBTQ+ community already has strong networks, but targeted health and wellness programming is always welcome. NOAGE’s one-day symposium offers a mix of evidence-based talks and community know-how, and it feels practical , expect a room of people swapping numbers as much as notes. According to NOAGE, the event returns to the Ochsner Center for Academic Excellence after last year’s ageing-focused programme, broadening the scope to wellness across the lifespan.

What’s on the agenda , clear topics, experienced speakers

Sessions are short, sharp and useful. Jim Meadows, LMSW, leads on body image and also co-presents on social connection; Nikki Alexander-Tumblin takes on women’s health and wellness; Laura Fine, JD, covers legal issues; and Liz Dunneback and Laurie Dietrich discuss community care at the end of life. Kieta Mutepfa from Gilead Sciences will present the lunchtime session, offering industry insight during the mid-day break. That mix gives you both frontline support and practical legal and medical perspectives.

Practical perks: food, CE credits and a resource fair

NOAGE has made attending easy , register in advance and you’ll get breakfast, lunch and access to a resource fair that gathers local services and outreach tables. Social workers and licensed professional counsellors can collect continuing education credits for most sessions, which helps clinicians stay current while supporting the community. Note the lunchtime presentation is excluded from CE accreditation, so plan your certificate-collecting accordingly.

How to make the most of the day

Arrive early to grab breakfast and visit the resource fair before sessions start; those tables are the best place to take home flyers, sign up for programmes or ask about local clinics. If you’re a practitioner, bring proof of licensure for CE sign-off. For attendees who want deeper follow-up, exchange contacts with presenters and look out for NOAGE’s future events , the organisation runs other community-focused activities throughout the year.

Who’s behind it and why you might care

NOAGE’s planning committee includes community stalwarts such as Joe Fay, Earl Nupsius Benjamin-Robinson, Jakeel Abdullah, Noel Twilbeck, Brian La Bella and Jim Meadows. Sponsors Avita Pharmacy, Gilead and St. Thomas Community Health Center help underwrite the event, keeping it free and well resourced. For local LGBTQ+ people, carers and professionals, this feels like a small, practical investment in wellbeing that could have real payoff.

It's a small, useful day that can make connections and care easier to find.

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