Jan Dennis to Lead Women's History Month Forum
Feb 25, 2018 10:44AM ● By Jeanne Fratello
Local historian and author Jan Dennis will kick off Women's History Month with a community forum at the Manhattan Beach Library on February 27.
At the forum, to be held from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., Dennis will discuss women leaders of Manhattan Beach, past and present. She will also give away copies of her book on the women of Manhattan Beach, "Skirts Across the Sand."
In an interview, Dennis explained that in the early days of Manhattan Beach, the town was just a resort community - and part of the city of Los Angeles - that basically closed up in the winter. Once the town grew, there was a movement led primarily by local women to incorporate Manhattan Beach as a town unto itself.
"It was basically the women who started the Neptunian Woman's Club who really got involved with the development of Manhattan Beach," said Dennis. "We're going to talk about those early 'gals' - the ones who started everything."
Dennis also plans to feature a special guest - Mira Costa student Francesca Bennett - a local Girl Scout who led a project earlier this year to teach young children the history of Manhattan Beach. "Francesca impressed me so much with her interest and her stick-to-it-iveness," said Dennis. "I asked her to come and speak about carrying on the history of the community."
The event is hosted by the Manhattan Beach Senior Citizens Resources Committee, County of Los Angeles Manhattan Beach Library, Manhattan Beach Parks and Recreation Older Adults Program, Friends of Manhattan Beach Library, Manhattan Beach Conservancy and Manhattan Beach Historical Society.
At the forum, to be held from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., Dennis will discuss women leaders of Manhattan Beach, past and present. She will also give away copies of her book on the women of Manhattan Beach, "Skirts Across the Sand."
In an interview, Dennis explained that in the early days of Manhattan Beach, the town was just a resort community - and part of the city of Los Angeles - that basically closed up in the winter. Once the town grew, there was a movement led primarily by local women to incorporate Manhattan Beach as a town unto itself.
"It was basically the women who started the Neptunian Woman's Club who really got involved with the development of Manhattan Beach," said Dennis. "We're going to talk about those early 'gals' - the ones who started everything."
Dennis also plans to feature a special guest - Mira Costa student Francesca Bennett - a local Girl Scout who led a project earlier this year to teach young children the history of Manhattan Beach. "Francesca impressed me so much with her interest and her stick-to-it-iveness," said Dennis. "I asked her to come and speak about carrying on the history of the community."
The event is hosted by the Manhattan Beach Senior Citizens Resources Committee, County of Los Angeles Manhattan Beach Library, Manhattan Beach Parks and Recreation Older Adults Program, Friends of Manhattan Beach Library, Manhattan Beach Conservancy and Manhattan Beach Historical Society.
