Community Leader Spotlight on Olivia Baker
Olivia Baker has been active in her neighborhood for many years. She is a familiar face at community clean ups and community meetings. Ms. Baker has welcomed PCRG’s Reimagining Communities Initiative with open arms. She supports our work by encouraging residents to participate and providing a platform for community discussion at monthly block watch meetings she leads. How long have you lived in the community? 57 years as a resident in Beltzhoover.In your opinion, what makes your community special? The history is what makes it special. This is a community that has risen and rode on the backs of past residents. My Father and Mother lived here and worked very hard to provide our family with great values and morals. Our neighbors treated their family and the community the same. Even though we had our struggles in Beltzhoover, we helped each other and were a close knit neighborhood and it felt like family outside of our homes.How are you currently involved in your neighborhood? I have been facilitating the Lower Beltzhoover Block Watch since 2012 and it runs every month. I would love to consult with a community group and community leaders. I’m more than happy to give positive feedback as well as guidance to help make Beltzhoover strong.What is one thing you would like to change in the community? Beltzhoover is missing pride. The neighborhood has fallen apart because of the past devastations that take place in all neighborhoods. I would love to reignite the residents with their true love for our neighborhood. We need ongoing maintenance, we need ongoing continuity, and we need short term, midterm and long term commitments.What is your day job? After 37 years at Highmark I have been retired since March 2010What is an interesting fact about yourself? Giving back to my community is really near and dear to my heart. It is fun for me to be a part of the Lower Beltzhoover Block Watch to get together with the residents to ensure we are on top of the safety of the neighborhood.