A Close-up at People Who Matter : Pacoima’s Outspoken,Tireless Booster

When Marie Harris first set foot in Pacoima in September, 1959, her impulse was to turn around and run.

“When I got off the train, I thought, ‘Oh God, where is California?’ ” she said. “I thought California was palm trees and streets paved with gold and diamonds. When I got off the train, I will never forget that.”

Nearly 35 years later, Harris has become a tireless booster of the small northeast San Fernando Valley community.

For her work, the sometimes controversial, always outspoken Harris has been named Woman of the Year for the 39th District of Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Sylmar).

Born in Houston, Harris was raised in Pittsburgh by a mother and stepfather she adored. She still carries her mother’s identification as an auxiliary policewoman in her wallet. Her mother was a joiner, involved in civic and community activities, volunteering much of her time.

“I swore I wasn’t going to be like her when I got grown,” Harris remembered.

But the plaques of recognition and thanks on her living room wall hint that she didn’t live up to that vow.

In Detroit, where she lived with her husband and three children, Harris was the toast of the fashion community, running her own design house. They had moved to Detroit only as a compromise. Harris’ husband wanted to move to California. She refused.

“That was like the other side of the world to me,” she said. “I didn’t want to be that far away from my family.”

But in 1959, she relented. And at first she hated Pacoima. She traveled to the more affluent areas of Los Angeles for fashion shows, spending little time in her new home.

But when her children started school, her focus shifted.

“To make a better place for them, I knew I had to get involved,” she said.

She started meeting other community members. She also started hearing from friends around the state about Pacoima’s reputation.

“Anything that happens in Pacoima is blasted as a negative. Even if it’s done in a surrounding area, it’s labeled Pacoima,” she said. “All this bad publicity we were getting.”

In 1979, Harris founded the Pacoima Property Owners Assn. to unite residents to improve the community and its image.

The next year, Harris started the “Back to Pacoima Expo” to spotlight the community.

“It was to honor our many, many superstars, our business and professional people and the trailblazers who were here long before I got here,” she said.

The summer festival at Hansen Dam lasted seven years until it got too big to handle financially, Harris said.

She took a break from the Expo, expecting to bring it back the following year. Harris said she became too busy.

Harris has served as executive director of the Pacoima Chamber of Commerce, ran unsuccessfully for a City Council seat, organized the community for a “Peace on Our Streets” campaign after the second Rodney G. King beating trial and been named honorary mayor of Pacoima. She’s put on beauty pageants, fashion shows and picked up a couple of papal citations.

“The foundation of our community remains strong in large part because of Marie’s fortitude, courage and enthusiasm,” said Katz, who nominated Harris for the Woman of the Year award. “With the strength of Marie’s visions, the community of Pacoima will never wane.”

Barbara Perkins, president of the San Fernando Valley section of the National Council of Negro Women, said Harris was an important part in forming the section three years ago. Harris is one of the first 50 charter members of the Valley section.

“She is one of the people, as a new community leader, I really look up to and admire for her dedication to the community, her consistency and her willingness to help after some 30 years,” Perkins said. “You can always call on her and she’s always fully available to help.”

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