Quinton Baker

Ujima is Swahili for collective work and responsibility, to build and maintain our community together and make our brothers’ and sisters’ problems our problems, and to solve them together. That concept truly defines Quinton Baker and guides his life’s goals.

When he was a little boy, Quinton’s mom worked two jobs to pay for their one-bedroom apartment. He learned from her that he would have to work hard to get what he wanted in life. He also learned along the way that he had a passion for helping people. In high school, he fell in love with psychology. He wanted to find answers to complex questions: Why do we act the way we do? What causes emotion? When his mother was diagnosed with an incurable autoimmune disease, Quinton focused on another question: Could psychology, alternative medicines and a healthy lifestyle cure her?

“Doctors of Western medicine told my mom there is no cure for her disease,” Quinton said, “but I believe there is a cure, just not with the conventional prescription pill.” In an effort to help his mom and others by answering his questions, Quinton set a goal to attain an undergraduate degree in psychology, and eventually a PhD in health psychology (the study of psychological and behavioral processes in health). “I’m looking forward to contributing to research conducted in natural herb and medicine remedies,” he said.

Quinton attended community college, and then, thanks to scholarships made available by generous donors, he transferred to Eastern. In his first year at EWU, Quinton met his goal to make the Dean’s List. His current academic goal is to graduate near the top of his class. Quinton has another goal that aligns with his desire to help others: “To volunteer for causes as long as I live,” he said.

At EWU, he has served as a mentor for Eastern’s Ujima Summer Bridge Program, which provides incoming African American freshmen with tools for academic success. In the broader community, Quinton volunteered for the American Red Cross’ Natural Disaster Unit, Department of Social and Health Services’ homeless count, Bloomsday, Spokane-to-Sandpoint Relay, and Special Olympics. Addressing domestic violence, he volunteered at a marital and domestic violence counseling center, and he spoke at a domestic violence seminar for police, clergy, politicians and citizens, and on a Spokane radio station.

Quinton thanks donors for his scholarships. “They helped pay for tuition, books, and housing, and they afforded me time for volunteering, which is an important component in the advancement of my education,” he said.

After he graduates from Eastern, Quinton plans to give back so that future students may also achieve success. “Giving back is a critical part of keeping an organization or a foundation alive,” Quinton said. “Not only should alumni give back financially, I feel they should also invest professionally. Alumni hold the keys to professional doors, and they should be looking to employ qualified graduates as they transfer from the classroom to the boardroom. Eagles helping Eagles!”

He’s got the right idea for achieving “Ujima.”