Long Beach set to celebrate its Women’s History with these events

Long Beach is embracing the spirit of Women’s History Month with three events celebrating the accomplishments of local women and their contributions to the community.

The Kiwanis Club will honor three remarkable women — Johanna Mathieson, Janine Sorenson and Denise Ford — at a brunch on Sunday at Seven Restaurant, on West Beech Street.

“There’s a lot of really, really dynamic women in our community that quietly go behind the scenes, they do things, and we want to give them the recognition, and it’s Women’s History Month,” Kiwanis President Marianne Raisig said. “Yes, there are historical women that we can look at, but these are women who are current and currently doing things, and making a change and impacting lives and impacting our community, and they should be honored.”

Mathieson is the executive director of Artists in Partnership, which has enriched the lives of many with art, music, and theater. Sorenson is a psychologist in the Long Beach School District and the executive director of Surf for All, which teaches children and teens with disabilities to surf. Ford is a former Nassau County legislator and a dedicated community advocate.

“Once you get involved in doing volunteer work, you see the connection between all the different organizations in what they do,” Raisig said. “We … talk about it and say, who is someone that’s deserving of being honored? Who are the people that are impacting the lives of the children?”

The proceeds raised at the brunch will contribute to the club’s causes, including funding for summer camp scholarships for underserved youth in the community.

In addition to honoring women who have made an impact, Kiwanis is urging attendees to bring new children’s books, which will be donated to local organizations such as the Martin Luther King Center and the Latino Civic Association. This initiative is intended to combat the drop in reading comprehension during the summer months and provide children with opportunities for continued learning.

Artists In Partnership, a nonprofit cultural arts organization, is set to host its Lucky 7th Annual Women in the Arts Awards and Recognition Fundraiser on April 4 at the Allegria Hotel.

The event will celebrate and honor notable women in the arts for their contributions to the community and the arts industry.

“I have had the privilege of working and developing programs, receiving support and assistance, and learning from so many women who were artists, entrepreneurs, community and organization representatives and friends,” Mathieson said. “I wanted a way to shine a light on them — to say thank you and to recognize their efforts, talents and energies.

“So, it was decided by the AIP executive board, in collaboration with the (LBNY) Arts Council, that a celebration was long overdue, and that one would be held in March — Women’s History Month. With consideration from the Allegria Hotel, we held our first event (in 2017) in their beautiful rooftop space, and the rest is history.”

To date, AIP has recognized 108 local women in a variety of categories, including Artists and Community, the Healing Arts, Educators, Community Organizers, Businesses Supporters of the Arts, Community Champions, Rising Stars and Lifetime Achievers.

The women being honored at this year’s event are Rachel Ivy Byer, Julie Carrion, Julianna Dernbach, Ilene Fox, Ronda Gale, Andrea Gauto, Michele Huttler Silver, Katherine Jaeger, Ginny Kelly, Ivy Landsman-Slevin, Betsy Mills, Collette Lee Morales, Lillian Reznicek and Kathy Teemer-Campbell.

The evening will feature live music, door prizes, raffles and a 50/50 drawing. Guests will enjoy a dinner buffet provided by JJ Coopers Restaurant.

Additionally, AIP is hosting the world premier of the documentary “The World I Know,” by filmmaker John Terrascuso, at the Long Beach Public Library auditorium on March 17. The film tells the story of 94-year-old Holocaust survivor and local artist Hedy Page, whose artwork has been displayed in museums and collections around the world.

There will be a question-and-answer session with Page, and the opportunity to view her latest painting, which depicts the Long Beach Boardwalk and friends, influencers and change-makers whose stories have special significance to Page. Tickets, and information about the events, are available at KiwanisClubLB.org/events-1 and AIP4Arts.org.