Zonta Club of Santa Clarita Valley, in partnership with GBD Enterprises, a Lancaster-based non-profit organization, will present a series of six financial skills workshops for women, beginning Oct. 17 and continuing on a monthly basis throughout the year. These free workshops are part of Zonta's LifeForward program and are scheduled for 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Valencia Library, 23743 W. Valencia Blvd.

Workshop topics include Managing Your Money and Identity Theft on Oct. 17, followed by monthly sessions addressing Banking, Credit and Credit History, Borrowing Basics, Home Ownership and Managing a Mortgage. Participants can attend all or selected programs.

Beginning in January 2010, Zonta's LifeForward program will offer eight additional workshops including Goal-Setting, Communication and Relationship Skills, Finding the Right Job, Resume Writing, Interviewing Skills, Time Management and Work Life Balance, Nutrition and Wellness. Those workshops are being scheduled for the Jo Anne Darcy Canyon Country Library.

Presenters are individuals or panels of people who are experts in the topics being presented. The LifeForward series evolved from a limited offering of workshops designed by Zonta to assist at-risk women in the community. The number of programs and the scope have increased each year, and this year the greatly expanded series has become one of Zonta's most important community service programs.