Granite Bay resident Christina Richter will never forget the day a tornado changed the course of her life forever. She was living with her family in a small town in southwestern Ohio, and when the twister hit, they were forced to crouch in a corner of their home’s basement to survive. When they emerged, their home was gone—along with much of the town. Soon after, they moved to a different state, but the event left an indelible mark on Richter’s life. “It taught me that material things don’t matter...life is about relationships: family and friends.”

An avid history buff, Richter became immersed in Roseville’s rich past after moving to California 20 years ago. She’s now the president of the Roseville Historical Society, in addition to sitting on the Historical Advisory Board of Placer County and being a member of the California Historical Society and Sacramento Historical Society. What’s more, she’s the author of Walk with Me, I Want to Tell You Something: The Story of the Roseville Fiddyment Family and is passionate about educating others on Roseville’s proud pioneering history—much of which is on display at the newly renovated Carnegie Library Museum on Lincoln Street. Richter is also a member of the Philanthropic Women’s Organization, a group that provides educational scholarships for women. For Richter, the key to building a community is education, especial

 ly when it comes to increasing awareness of how the past shapes who we are today. “Roseville began as a small, tight-knit community,” she shares. “We were successful because we cared about and supported each other.”   

 —Amber Foster