By Hector Gonzalez
Staff Writer

February 25, 2015 -- “Weaving the Stories of Women’s Lives” is the theme of Santa Monica’s 35th annual Women’s History Month in March, proclaimed Tuesday by Mayor Kevin McKeown.

The proclamation at Tuesday’s City Council meeting kicked off a series of special programs beginning next week and organized by the Santa Monica Commission on the Status of Women in partnership with several City departments and local nonprofit organizations.

This year’s Women’s History Month celebration comes at a time when three women—Pam O’Conner, Gleam Davis, and Sue Himmelrich, who was elected in November – hold seats on the seven-member Santa Monica City Council.

It’s the first time more than 15 years that the City has had three women serving on the Council simultaneously, McKeown noted.

"With the election of Sue Himmelrich, our City Council includes three women for the first time since I was initially elected in 1998,” the mayor said. “That makes it especially gratifying as mayor to recognize Women’s History Month and the strong role Santa Monica has historically enjoyed in championing equality and empowerment.”

Himmelrich, an attorney for the Western Center on Law and Poverty, who also has previously served on the City’s Planning Commission, said the City needs more women in decision-making roles in local government.

“I think that for a long time we haven’t had enough women on the City Council,” Himmelrich said Tuesday. “For a while, we had a majority of women on the Planning Commission, and I hope we continue to have more women serving on the two bodies, because women bring a unique and valuable skill set to the table.”

Among the special events tied to the celebration is the Organization of Women Leaders/Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce awards breakfast March 2 at the Sheraton Delfina, 530 Pico Boulevard., at 7:30 p.m., honoring outstanding local women leaders.

Other events include a one-day conference honoring women veteran on March 7 at the YWCA Santa Monica, 2019 14th Street, at 9 a.m., and an all-day breast cancer screening and information event March 21 and 28 at Virginia Avenue Park, 2200 Virginia Avenue.

The month also will feature documentary films about the challenges and triumphs of women, “and exhibitions such as costumed performers coming alive at Woodlawn Cemetery on Thursday, March 20, portraying famous women from Santa Monica history,” the Commission announced in a news release.

“We are honored to collaborate with our Santa Monica area partners who are working to celebrate the achievements of women in all facets of life,”said Nicole Phillis, chairwoman of the Santa Monica Commission on the Status of Women.

“Their stories are critically important to encouraging girls and young women to think larger and bolder, and give boys and men a fuller understanding of who women are and what women can accomplish.”

For a complete list of Women’s History Month programs and more details on all the events, visit the Commission on the Status of Women’s website, www.smgov.net/Departments/CCS.