Los Angeles Penn Women Build Career Networking Connections and Reflect on “Women in the Holocaust”

By Michal Clements W’84

On Tuesday, August 9^th, approximately 50 Penn alumnae and current students (including an incoming Penn freshman) gathered on Tuesday August 9th for Trustees’ Council of Penn Women TCPW Speed Career Networking and a “Women in the Holocaust” Panel Discussion at the Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust (LAMOTH) in Pan Pacific Park. Before our evening began, as an extra treat, LAMOTH Board Chair and TCPW Member Beth Kean led a private tour of the museum for interested alumni.

During the speed networking portion of the evening, Penn alumnae and students got to explore several rooms of the museum as the networking meeting locations were in different rooms.  Special highlights include the “Woman in Gold” room as well as the Tree of Testimony Room, among many others.

The speed networking table captains were TCPW’s Co Chair Lori Wachs, Christine Belgrad, Julie Platt and Beth Kean as well as several Los Angeles area Penn alumni: Elizabeth Kopple, Linda Rosenberg, and Lisa Niver.

Next, Penn alumni and documentary filmmaker Jon Kean (“Swimming in Auschwitz”) expertly moderated the “Women in the Holocaust” panel discussion to focus on womens’ experiences and to include a mix of academic historical realities, as well as personal narratives and reflections. The panelists were Professor Sharon Gillerman of Hebrew Union College, LAMOTH Director Samara Hutman and LAMOTH Board Member and Survivor Dana Schwartz.

The special evening was well summarized in a review that one of the attendees wrote”

“This was a lovely and inspiring place to hold an alumni event. Relatives of holocaust survivors and scholars spoke to our alumni group and provided heartfelt insight into one of the worst times in human history. The museum itself is deeply informative with photos and dialogue that capture pieces of the holocaust. The hors d’oeuvres and drinks was a nice addition to the event.

A heartfelt thank you to all who made a evening into a reality including the LAMOTH leadership and staff, especially Beth Kean and Lisa Barnet; Penn alumni relations, especially Molly Trimmer and Terri Welsh; Los Angeles area Penn women leaders, and our wonderful moderator and panelists, Jon Kean, Dana Schwartz, Sharon Gillerman and Samara Hutman.