Page 4 - mwoty2020women

Biography 4
It’s fair to say Maria Christopher is the public face of Rancho Camulos Museum in the city of Santa Clarita. If
there’s a festival with a pop-up tent for Rancho Camulos, Maria is behind the counter. If there’s a meeting of the
Santa Clarita Tourism Bureau, Maria is there, representing the “Home of Ramona.” The 1884 novel “Ramona”
sparked a massive westward migration to California, and it was loosely based on the people and settings of Ran-
cho Camulos at the western edge of our valley. Today, when re-enactors recreate author Helen Hunt Jackson’s
visit to the ranch more than a century ago, guess who portrays the wordsmith? Correct. Maria Christopher. In
2003, Maria joined the team at Rancho Camulos Museum – which, she’ll remind you, was designated a Nation-
al Historic Landmark in 2000. An employee the U.S. Census Bureau, Maria and her husband came to Valen-
cia in 1997, and she quickly adapted to Santa Clarita’s spirit of volunteerism. Maria has out with local events
sponsored by the city of Santa Clarita (since 1997) and venues such as COC’s Performing Arts Center (2007 to
date). She has lent her volunteer time and talents locally to the Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival, the Amgen Tour
of California and the SCV Boys & Girls Club Festival of Trees (2015 to date), as well as to the LAHSA Home-
less Count (2006 to date), the Hollywood Bowl Museum (2008-2018), and the Rose Parade (float decorator,
2010 to present). But it was at Rancho Camulos Museum that she really found her niche. Maria has worn many
hats at the museum – and not just Helen Hunt Jackson’s! She has served as a docent for public and private tours,
facilitated Times 5th District of Los Angeles County.

Sharlene Duzick

Member Services Director, Henry Mayo Fitness And Health
Nominating Organization
JCI Santa Clarita
Organizations
JCI Santa Clarita Board Member & 2020 President
(Years of Service: 20 years) Friends of the Library Board
Member (Years of Service: 2 Years) Wish Education Foundation
Board Member (Years of Service: 1) College of the Canyons
Foundation Board Members (Years of Service: 1)
College of the Canyons Alumni Committee Chair
(Years of Service: 1) American Cancer Society Volunteer
(Years of Service: 5) Students Off And Running Assistant Coach
& Founder of Mardi Gras Madness (Years of Service: 6) Santa Clarita Valley Family YMCA (Years of Ser-
vice: 6) VIA Connecting to Success (Years of Service: 5 years) NextSCV (Years of Service: 2) Single Mothers
Outreach Years of Service: 10 Years) Various volunteer roles for the last 21 years with Carousel Ranch, Ameri-
can Cancer Society, Henry Mayo Hospital, Zonta, Brenda Mehling Cancer Fund, Santa Clarita Valley Chamber
of Commerce, Santa Clarita Valley Boys & Girls Club, Child And Family Center, Michael Hoefflin Foundation,
SCV Youth Project, Lions Club, City of Santa Clarita River Rally & Cowboy Poetry Music Festival
Organization Impact
The Santa Clarita Valley JCI Chapter has going through it seasons of ample participation to winding down to
just a few members. Over the last 3 years Sharlene has played a strong leadership presence in helping maintain
the chapter while bring in fresh face. In the last 2 years, Sharlene along with Taylor Kellstrom and myself have
been able to grow the chapter, establish new process, map out a development calendar and develop and unleash
potential in others resulting in multiple chapter projects. Those projects have assisted singles mothers & fam-
ilies in need in our valley, provided food to the homeless in a time of need, raised funds for local schools and
highlighted the contributions of other young leadership making a difference. The focal point has always resided
with helping people find their gifts, develop them and let them share those gifts.
Other Contributions
Sharlene’s focus has been centered on developing others; provide education and holding ourselves accountable.
She ran for Saugus Union School Board to provide a parents voice to the board and was focused on improving