Special Events

black and white cityscape graphic with text and photo of panel moderator

Housing Journeys and Solutions

2024
Thursday, August 8, 5 pm – 7 pm

In collaboration with the Santa Monica Bay Area Human Relations Council the museum presents a panel discussion, as part of our ongoing exhibition, “UnHoused: A History of Housing in Santa Monica.” The discussion will highlight individuals who will share their personal experiences with homelessness and their subsequent involvement in the housing system, underscoring the vital role of creativity in developing effective housing solutions.

The evening will be moderated by Dr. Karen Gunn. Dr. Gunn was a tenured professor and Chairperson of the Psychology Department at Santa Monica College. Her leadership has been pivotal in curriculum transformation, student equity initiatives, anti-bias training, and professional development programs.

 

Panelists contributing to this thought-provoking discussion include:

 

René Buchanan, a 2001 graduate of The People Concern’s Daybreak program for homeless women with mental illness and a former Santa Monica City Housing Commission commissioner.

 

Kevin Glover, Executive Director of Hand to Hand Hunger Project, a nonprofit providing hot meals, hygiene items, referrals, and monthly resource fairs. Kevin’s previous roles include Director of Client Services at Chrysalis in Santa Monica.

 

Kim Reeder serves on the community advisory board for the Urban Institute’s Housing Justice project and is an advocate with Housing Now! CA. She also serves on the Housing Advocates Council for Abundant Housing LA and is a Housing Justice Advocate with the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE).

 

Suzette Shaw is a Skid Row resident who writes, speaks, and advocates from a woman’s perspective. Suzette uses her experiences and poetry to advocate for systemic change, emphasizing the need to dismantle policies perpetuating trauma among the oppressed. She believes in addressing inequities to achieve true equality and empowerment.

Free admission includes time to explore the museum’s exhibitions. RSVP@santamonicahistory.org
Spanish language services by request: info@civicwellbeing.org

 

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Special Events

Graphic - words Dia De Los Muertos / Day of the Dead

Sand Rush: The Revival of the Beach in Twentieth-Century Los Angeles

2024
Saturday, May 11, at 2:00 PM

Historian Elsa Devienne will present her new book “Sand Rush: The Revival of the Beach in Twentieth-Century Los Angeles” at the Santa Monica History Museum on Saturday, May 11, at 2:00 PM.

 Drawing from historical archives, anthropology, and cultural artifacts, Devienne showcases the beach’s pivotal role in urban history and its impact on issues such as real estate, race, environmental conservation, and modern beauty standards.
 
The book explores the formation of a “beach lobby” in the 1930s, which spearheaded efforts to reclaim and clean the beaches, paving the way for their modernization as havens for a mostly white, heterosexual middle class. Devienne also examines the cultural significance of Muscle Beach and the rise of surf culture, which helped shape Hollywood’s portrayal of physical beauty and leisure.
 
About the Author: Elsa Devienne is no stranger to accolades, having won the prestigious Willi Paul Adams Award from the Organization of American Historians for her outstanding contributions to American history. She is an Assistant Professor in US History at Northumbria University. Devienne is a sought-after expert, frequently appearing on radio, podcasts, and TV shows to discuss her research in both English and French.