Jessica Baker

Gloria, Jessica, Memory

JESSICA BAKER is Co-Founder and Vice President of Programming for The Respect Institute. Jessica brings more than 10 years of proven success in the fields of youth development, project management, community outreach, team building, fundraising and event planning. Jessica leads our Program Advisory Board and manages all aspects of our program development and delivery model.

Jessica has a Masters degree in Educational Counseling and carries a Pupil Personnel Services Credential. In addition to her professional work, Jessica has engaged in extensive volunteer work that has included empowering at-risk youth locally in the California Bay Area and internationally in Zambia, Africa.

Jessica was taught self-respect at an early age by her mother who encouraged her to celebrate her strengths and weaknesses and always follow her passions. Thanks to this foundation, one Respect Basic Jessica is strong at is Follow Your Passions. She has always pursued her dreams and played full out in the game of life, sometimes against the advice of people who encouraged her to follow a more traditional path. She is grateful for the rich life experiences that have resulted from her following her passions.

Her number one respect role model is His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Through his example of compassion, joy, child-like exuberance and serenity, Jessica has learned to live life with grounded enthusiasm. She continues to feel blessed by all of the gifts she receives in life and is grateful for the opportunity to provide people with tools to build self-respect and spread respect for all.

“My story includes overcoming the obstacles of family mental illness and addiction. Reaching out to experts and relying on my spiritual community have helped me stay on my road to respect and taught me the value of Getting Help (another Respect Basic). The confusion and turmoil that can be present when dealing with these kinds of family issues have lead me to work on the Know You’re Valuable Respect Basic, too. I do this through maintaining a daily self-care practice, journaling, telling my truth and reaching out to supportive friends, family and community.” –Jessica