OK Radio #13
Secretary Karen Baker, Secretary of Service and Volunteering for the state of California

7.22.2008
Karen Baker, newly appointed Secretary of Service and Volunteering for the state of California, speaks to OK Radio host Joe Folan about California Governor Schwarzenegger’s first-in-the-nation action to encourage volunteerism in California and to improve coordination of volunteer efforts between the state’s departments and agencies. The Governor signed an executive order to establish the new position of secretary of service and volunteering and appointed Karen Baker who will be a member of the Governor’s Cabinet.

What is the importance of this role and how will affect nonprofits? How has CA organized resources to best mobilize volunteers? What’s on the horizon for the nation and other states to model this effort?

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Interview Highlights
:50 Brief on executive order creating the position of Secretary of Service and Volunteering
1:49 Importance of Secretary’s role in the Cabinet on behalf of nonprofits
5:23 Secretary Baker hears from nonprofits on what help they need
7:10 Volunteers and other resources key to nonprofits
8:11 Central CA website for Volunteers to engage
9:27 Mobilization and the critical role of volunteers for disaster preparedness
15:44 National Conference upcoming on value CA model for other states
17:09 Goals for the next year and beyond
19:36 OK If? What object would Secretary Baker bring if stranded on an island…?

Karen Baker
Secretary of Service and Volunteering

Karen Baker was appointed by Governor Schwarzenegger to serve as the Secretary of Service and Volunteering. Karen brings to the agency 20 years of innovative leadership in all facets of the service and volunteerism sector, including local and national nonprofits and federal agencies.

Prior to her arrival at CaliforniaVolunteers in January 2006, Karen served as the managing partner for Valley Vision, a Sacramento-based “action tank” that addresses regional economic, environmental and social issues. She also served as the director of innovation at Share Our Strength, a national anti-hunger nonprofit located in Washington, D.C. Karen served as director for program coordination and special projects for the Corporation for National Service, and was appointed by President Clinton as the deputy director for AmeriCorps*VISTA. Before serving in Washington D.C., Karen was the executive director of Chrysalis, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping economically disadvantaged and homeless individuals become self-sufficient through employment opportunities.

Karen holds her bachelor of arts in Sociology from the University of California at Los Angeles. After graduating from college, she served one year with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps where she worked with at-risk youth in Seattle.

Website: CaliforniaVolunteers