When it comes to being a CASA volunteer, Jennifer Baker finds her greatest reward in the sustained and individual nature of the work. “It’s not like tutoring, for example, where you work with whatever child walks through the door. As a CASA volunteer, you have the ability to build rapport with a child and a family. It is something I really love about CASA.”
A former school teacher who now operates a business in the IT field, Jennifer has spent the past two years advocating for the best interests of three young children. She has watched their steady progress towards reunification with their mother, and has enjoyed the entire family’s continuing growth. Along the way, Jennifer has made her own mark with the children by stressing the importance of education and talking about what they might want to be when they grow up. “I feel like I am planting seeds for the future. I am trying to help them understand that there is a big world out there.”
It turns out that CASA volunteering is just one of Jennifer’s many volunteer roles. She has been a community leader in her hometown of Herndon, working with the Holiday Homes Tour Committee, Friday Night Live, the Herndon Council for the Arts and the Herndon Festival. She is also a member of the Philanthropic Educational Organization (P.E.O.) dedicated to promoting and funding educational opportunities for women around the world. Not surprisingly, Jennifer was part of a group recognized for service to the Town during the Mayor’s Volunteer Appreciation ceremony last year!
Find out what's happening in Burkefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Jennifer is now directing her considerable energy at a run for Town Council of Herndon. “Herndon has the charm of a small town,” she says, “a place where you can know your neighbors and walk to local shops and restaurants and yet have access to the cultural and business opportunities of a city like Washington. I love it and want to protect the history and the intimacy of our home town and still create a place that nurtures the entrepreneurial spirit of small businesses like Green Lizard Cycling.”
Fairfax CASA thanks Jennifer Baker for her service to our community and wishes her luck in her new endeavor!
