Listening to Women Series 2026 (OLLI)

Listening to Women is a weekly series which
recognizes women whose brilliance and fortitude
have reshaped industries and who are making a
difference in today’s communities. At each session,
we will hear the personal stories of women, driven
by a cause, with the passion and determination to
have achieved success in a variety of fields.

Jan. 22 - “Life upon the wicked stage ain’t ever
what a girl supposes...”
Speakers: Carolyn Michel, Carole Kleinberg
Carolyn Michel, Sarasota Jewish Theatre’s Board Chair,
and Carole Kleinberg, Artistic Director, will share anecdotes,
videos, and a live performance, covering their exciting
journey as women and as theatre artists in a business that
can be challenging, complicated, and unforgiving. They are
each admired as “stars” in a world where success is hard
won. As founding members of Sarasota Jewish Theatre,
together they have built a professional theatre that has
earned recognition, respect, and admiration.

Jan. 29 - Saving Waters, Shaping Futures:
Women Working to Protect Our Rivers,
Estuaries, and the Communities
That Depend Upon Them
Speakers: Jennifer L. Shafer, Ph.D. and Abbey Tyrna, Ph.D.
Moderator: Christine P. Johnson
Water is the most important nutrient for survival. It’s also
the reason most people choose to live in Florida. In recent
years, we’ve witnessed the tug-of-war between growth
and conservation as well as the strengthening and waning
of our water protections. With 1,000 people moving to
Florida a day, how do we ensure we have drinkable,
fishable, swimmable water, now and tomorrow? Hear from
these women – scientists, leaders, and business owners –
how and why they do this important work. Their discussion
will also provide insights into what is being done to
improve water quality and quantity, and what you can
do to help.

Feb. 5 - Rebels With a Cause: The Power of
Resistance and Joy in the Lives
of Black Women
Speaker: Dr. Janet Taylor
Interviewer: Victoria Kasdan
Through her personal stories and historical narratives,
Dr. Janet Taylor will explore the themes of Black women
and resistance that have been ignored, unexamined,
and buried. The audience will learn about the connection
between the African diaspora and a psychological mindset
of resistance, autonomy, adaptation, and cultural synthesis,
all contributing to a “resist” mindset for Black women
today. This is fueled by an innate desire to overcome
“waves of struggle,” with a radical repurposing of
resistance leading to joy, strength, and transformation.

Feb. 12 - Beyond Seeing: A Memoir with Photographs
Speaker: Alyssia Lazin
Interviewer: Virginia Shearer
Alyssia Lazin, photographer, and Virginia Shearer, Executive
Director of Sarasota Art Museum, will explore Lazin’s
transformation of familiar subjects into sublime imagery
through her unique painterly approach to photography.
Lazin is known for her photographs of intimate and familiar
subjects. Her projects reveal hidden worlds through careful
exploration and discovery. Her most notable works include
the series “Square Space,” “Unfolding,” and “Abstracting,”
capturing iconic imagery with a formalist yet painterly
approach. The conversation will include Lazin’s creative
process, how she finds beauty in the unseen and overlooked,
and the role that chance encounters and unexpected
moments play in shaping her artistic vision. Attendees
will gain insight into how travel and discovery inform her
work, and how she bridges the gap between photography
and painting.

Feb. 19 - Sarasota’s Renaissance Woman
Speaker: Christine Jennings
Interviewer: Susan Burns
How did a 17-year-old bank teller from Ohio with no family
money, no contacts, and no college degree start a bank
in Sarasota? Christine Jennings founded Sarasota Bank
in 1992 and served as its President/CEO and Chair of the
Board for 11 years. Sarasota Bank was sold in 2003, and
stockholders received $62.11 for their $10 investment.
In 2004, she jumped into politics as a candidate for
U.S. Congress, nearly flipping a heavily Republican district
in 2006, losing by 369 votes. From 2009 to 2014, she was
CEO of Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe (WBTT). How did
she lead WBTT from financial duress to financial stability
and secure a permanent home for their performing facility?
Christine will discuss her unconventional success, the
obstacles she confronted, her leadership style, and why
she was never afraid of failure.

Feb. 26 - Faith in Our Private and Public Lives
Speaker: Denise Flynn, Samar Dahmash-Jarrah,
Rabbi Jennifer Singer, Rev. Anita D. Williams
Interviewer: Sue Jacobson
Many Americans are wrestling with the role of faith in our
private lives and in our communal life. We frequently hear it
said of religions that “we are more alike than different.” But
that’s not entirely true; we know that the world’s religions
are quite different. We are honored to have with us four
amazing women who have walked very different paths
toward spirituality, and to learn how their chosen faiths—
Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism—function for them
in American life. Their spiritual journeys, the changing roles
that their faiths play in their lives, and the impact of their
choices are both fascinating and instructive. We hope this
will help attendees understand our differences, which is the
foundation of true mutual respect.