Maggie Kildee’s
90th Birthday
Sunday, June 5th from 2:00 – 4:00 pm
at the Studio Channel Islands Blackboard Gallery
2222 E. Ventura Blvd., Camarillo, CA 93010
Hors d’oeuvres ~ Wine ~ Cake ~ Entertainment
RSVP by June 1st
Maggie Kildee is a native Californian who began her professional career as a public-school teacher and in 1980 was elected to the Ventura County Board of Supervisors, representing the 3rd Supervisorial District stretching from Camarillo to Santa Paula. In 1982, she served as the first woman Chair of the Board. Early in her tenure she established herself as a fair-minded leader who spoke her mind, who valued an independent view and was a consensus builder. Her legacy on the Board of Supervisors was commemorated by a focus on health care where she served as Chair of the Medical Oversight Committee, guiding, and strengthening the Ventura County Medical Center to a sustainable enterprise system. She also oversaw the development of the County’s Greenbelt Agreements between cities, as well as the first-in-the-state Agricultural Lands Preservation Program which protects land use and zoning rights.
Maggie Kildee’s passion is the arts. She is one of the founders of Studio Channel Islands Art Center (SCIAC), helping to establish an art center over twenty years ago housed within Cal State University at Channel Islands. When the studios needed to move, she worked tirelessly to negotiate a lease with Pleasant Valley School District to move the art studios to its current site. The move proved to be invaluable; by allowing artists to flourish and more importantly, to involve the Camarillo community in the arts through youth and adult art classes, art galleries, studio tours, special events and festivals. Maggie was an active member of SCIAC’s Board for many years and was instrumental in recruiting community members to join the Board or become active supporters of the arts.
“When I look back at Studio Channel Islands beginnings more than 20 year ago and see the energetic and enthusiastic ways it is both supporting artists, and involving the community in the arts, my heart overflows!! It was home to my own studio for twenty years, and the support I received there from the other artists and friends allowed me to grow as an artist, and as an individual. It took so many dedicated people to start that fledgling organization, and to stick with it through all its ups and downs. I am so proud to have been involved with every one of them, and I miss you all now!”