Beth Leder-Pack Ken Genser Communitas Award 2009
. . . September 12, 2009 Ken Genser received The Church in Ocean Park's "Communitas Award" which honors outstanding individuals who embody and elevate the spirit of community. Ken was certainly most deserving. 2009 . . . the bio of Ken appeared in the Communitas program. It was written after interviewing Ken in August, 2009. I thought it would be nice at this time to share the bio with the community at-large. After Communitas, Ken told me that he was extremely touched to have received this award because of what it represents. He also told me that he loved the evening, being surrounded by friends and community. He also especially loved the "gift in song" given to him by Caroline Nelms who sang "Make Our Garden Grow" from Leonard Bernstein's operetta, Candide. He was very emotional when he said it, something which took me by surprise.
I moved to Santa Monica in 1989. Ken was already on the City Council. I have not lived in Santa Monica without Ken at the helm of the City. I trusted him implicitly on many of the issues that are near and dear to my heart, such as affordable housing and the living wage. I have to admit that I am a bit afraid now not to have his leadership.