Staff Profile: Carol Baker, Director of Public AffairsMarch 15, 2010 |
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 Carol Baker is the director of the Public Affairs Department at First 5 LA and oversees communications, marketing, government affairs and community outreach for the organization. With First 5 LA since 2007, Carol has helped shape the face of the organization for the community both locally and statewide. She also leads ongoing communications efforts about First 5 LA's new strategic plan that will guide our investments through 2015. Born in the San Fernando Valley, Carol's first experience with branding and marketing was naming her parent's surf and ski shop at the age of 10: Burbank Pool & Patio, Ski & Surf. Staying local and following in her father's footsteps, Carol attended Occidental College, a small liberal arts college in Eagle Rock, and received her bachelor's degree in English. Occidental is also where President Barack Obama began his college career. Even before graduating from college, Carol launched her career as a journalist with an internship at the Pasadena Star News. Her first "real job" was as a police reporter for City News Service, a local wire service. She then advanced on to cover high-profile state criminal court cases and the federal courts beat for United Press International. Carol worked as a reporter and political columnist for both the San Bernardino County Sun and the Daily Breeze in Torrance. One of her biggest challenges as a journalist was her stint writing the "Daily Commuter" -- a column on commuting that was published five days a week. After more than 10 years as a journalist, Carol decided to move into a different kind of public education, joining the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office Bureau of Crime Prevention and Youth Services. Starting out as a community outreach representative, Carol quickly moved on to become the bureau's director. Managing a staff of 20, she was responsible for overseeing more than 30 annual initiatives in crime prevention programming, youth services, community outreach and public affairs. This was her last position before coming to First 5 LA. In addition to her day-to-day work, Carol has also served as a YMCA Fund-Raising campaign team leader and as a member for the Suicide Prevention Partnerships Advisory Board. In her free time, Carol likes to snow ski and enjoy other activities with her family. She lives with her husband and son in the South Bay. Click below to hear the interview with Carol. ‹‹Back to this week's Monday Morning Report
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