Christine Barker – Organizer for a Healthier Fresno
Christine Barker, Building Healthy Communities FLARE Together Coordinator for FIRM first discovered the organization by entering the following search words on Google: “Fresno,” “Intern,” and “Refugee.”
Immediately, Fresno Interdenominational Refugee Ministries came up and there was a summer intern position available for the 2008. She applied, was accepted, took the job and returned to do it for successive summers. She was living and studying in Spokane, Washington at the time and had been working with newly arrived immigrants there.
During those summers she worked with volunteers and children and continued her interest in the immigrant experience. Her university major was international studies and she had been researching about the future of refugees in America.
She is still thinking about that.
Somewhere in the timeline, she spent 6 months in South Africa doing international development. After graduation from the university, she spent a year of service in Toronto and planned a return to her hometown of Fresno.
She called then Executive Director and founder, Sharon Stanley on her second day back.
“Do you have any jobs?” Christine asked.
“We’ll find something,” Sharon replied and she did – immediately.
Since that time in 2011, Christine Barker has been a community organizer in one program or another with FIRM. Most recently, she has emerged as a city-wide leader in the struggle for healthy community, advocating in areas where FRIM and FIRM’s people are most impacted.
“FIRM is just wonderful,” Christine reflects, “loving everyone who comes through the door.”
She says that it is a loving work environment as well. At FIRM, she has always felt supported. When she has had new ideas, her supervisors have always encouraged her and released her to develop them.
“Like you said about Mr. Rogers,” she reminded me, “FIRM loved me into being.”
Asked what the future holds, Christine is still letting that develop. However, she is sure she wants to see quality community development in Fresno. She is committed to continuing to be a part of helping the people of Fresno develop a brighter vision for their own future as a city.
When people are asked to describe Barker’s presence in an arena of activity, words like “leader,” “visionary,” and “inspirational,” are used. It is clear to even the casual observer that she is not only playing, but will continue to play a vital role in the emergence of a healthier, happier, more just Fresno.
In the meantime, FIRM is blessed to have her doing that with and among us!