Tiffany Baker is a trusted voice, a servant leader, and a fierce advocate for youth, families, and the overlooked. As a former foster youth, chaplain, and community leader, her life’s mission is clear: to serve God by serving people — with dignity, love, and truth.
A Life of Service Rooted in Faith and Community
Tiffany Baker didn’t found The Empowerment Center because it was a good idea — she built it from her own story. A former foster youth and youth foster parent to her siblings, Tiffany has known hardship, but she’s chosen to turn pain into purpose. Her heart for community is matched only by her faith in God and her commitment to healing people from the inside out.
Over the past 25 years, Tiffany has mentored young people, housed families, served community members during tumultuous times as a hospital chaplain and commissioner, and trained countless leaders across public agencies, schools, and churches. She shows up — not with a clipboard, but with compassion and courage.
Fiscal Leadership & State-wide Impact
Tiffany’s leadership extends beyond advocacy—she is a trusted fiscal steward with a proven track record in managing and overseeing multimillion-dollar state and federally funded initiatives. As Chair and Commissioner across multiple regional governing boards, Tiffany’s leadership has been instrumental in the areas of advocacy, board governance, and training around the federally funded Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) and the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
In her roles as County Commissioner and Board Chair of Community Action Partnership Riverside County, Tiffany ensured maximum feasible participation in the administration of grant funding on the state and county levels. She ensured funds were allocated to alleviate the causes and conditions of poverty in the lives of youth and their families who are most impacted.
In her role as Chair of Hope Collaborative, District 3, and Voting Member of the Executive Cabinet for Riverside County’s Child Abuse Prevention Council (CAPC), Tiffany championed their mission to promote the safety and well-being of children and prevent abuse and neglect across Riverside County. She guided the collaborative in program implementation and funding decisions with the County Children’s Trust Fund’s (CCTF) purpose—to ensure the collaborative strengthens families through prevention, education, and early intervention of child abuse.
Her dedication to protecting children and building resilient families earned her one of her most meaningful honors: an award presented by the late County Supervisor John Benoit, recognizing Tiffany as one of Riverside County’s first Child Abuse Prevention Advocates of the Year.
Tiffany has developed several award-winning programs, and her work has received recognition from city, county, and state-elected officials, peers, and colleagues:
Recognitions for a Legacy of Resilience
We extend our sincere thanks to Senator Kelly Seyarto, Senator Shannon Grove,
Assemblymember Kate Sanchez for recognizing Tiffany Baker’s 25 years of service with formal State Assembly and Joint Senate/Assembly honors. Your recognition uplifted our students and cemented
Tiffany’s legacy in the official records of the State of California (Members Resolution No. 305), presented on November 14, 2025.
“Whereas, Tiffany Baker, founder of The Empowerment Center and respected community leader, child advocate, and entrepreneur, has brought credit and distinction to herself through her career and civic achievements and has significantly improved the quality of life within the local community, across the State of California, and beyond, and it is appropriate at this time to highlight her many accomplishments and extend to her special honors and the highest commendations; and…
Whereas, a true model of resilience, Tiffany Baker began formulating her vision during her days as a foster youth, when, at 18 years of age, she made the courageous decision to adopt her two younger sisters out of an unsafe home environment, completely transforming her family and interrupting its negative trajectory, and her humanitarian and relational approach to her own family and others ultimately became the blueprint for her decades of service as a chaplain, pastor, child advocate, and organizational leader; and
Whereas, in 2005, Tiffany founded The Empowerment Center (TEC) in Temecula, which has served as a safe place for youth and families to overcome their adversities through resilience-building and strengths-based solutions, made possible through partnerships with school districts, public and private agencies, Native American tribes, and nonprofit organizations across California; and
Whereas, over the past 25 years, Tiffany has expanded TEC’s reach to address housing and shelter needs, opening doors of hope for youth, single mothers, indigenous women, families in crisis, and children recovering from trauma, providing them with a safe place to restart, rebuild, and restore their lives; and
Whereas, among her numerous accomplishments, Tiffany launched the Community Health Worker Academy, successfully training and deploying more than 150 Mental Health Community Health Workers statewide as part of a California Workforce Development Board–funded initiative, thereby equipping a front-line workforce to address urgent behavioral health needs in schools, families, and communities; and
Whereas, Under Tiffany’s leadership, The Empowerment Center has been recognized by the California Workforce Development Board and the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, in honor of its innovative, community-based solutions for workforce readiness and mental health service delivery; and
Whereas, Tiffany has expanded her impact nationally, consulting with state agencies, legislators, and front-line staff in other states on best practices to ensure the safety, protection, and well-being of children, and she has spoken on major stages to hundreds of child welfare professionals, educators, and advocates, including conferences hosted by the Arizona Department of Health and the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s Children’s Roundtable Summit; and
Whereas, Tiffany Baker’s steadfast faith has guided her servant leadership, and through her service, she has created a legacy of hope and resilience for youth, families, and communities throughout Riverside County, San Diego County, and across the nation; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by Senators Kelly Seyarto and Shannon Grove and Assemblymember Kate Sanchez, that Tiffany Baker be extended the highest appreciation and commendation for her extraordinary 25 years of advocacy and leadership on behalf of the unseen and underserved children, youth, families, and communities and applauded for her record of service, which stands as an enduring example of courage, compassion, and faith in action.
Members Resolution No. 305
Dated this 14th day of November, 2025
Signed by: By the Honorable Kelly Seyarto, 32nd Senatorial District | The Honorable Shannon Grove, 12th Senatorial District | And the Honorable Kate Sanchez, 71st Assembly District
Thank you to California Assemblymember Corey Jackson for honoring Tiffany’s 25 years of service to youth and families with a formal recognition from the California State Assembly presented on November 14, 2025.
“Whereas, Tiffany Baker, founder of The Empowerment Center and respected community leader, child advocate, and entrepreneur, has brought credit and distinction to herself through her career and civic achievements and has significantly improved the quality of life for those in need…
Whereas, Tiffany has launched the Community Health Worker Academy, successfully training and deploying more than 150 Mental Health Community Health Workers statewide as part of a California Workforce Development Board-funded initiative, equipping a front-line workforce to address urgent behavioral health needs in schools, families, and communities; and
Whereas, Tiffany has expanded her impact nationally, consulting with state agencies, legislators, and front-line staff in other states on best practices to ensure the safety, protection, and well-being of children, and has spoken on major stages to hundreds of child welfare professionals, educators, and advocates, including conferences hosted by the Arizona Department of Health and the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s Children’s Roundtable Summit; therefore, be it
Resolved, that Tiffany Baker be extended the highest appreciation and commendation for her extraordinary 25 years of advocacy and leadership on behalf of the unseen and underserved – our children, youth, and families and communities in need – and that her record of service stand as an enduring example of courage, compassion, and faith in action.
Dated this 14th day of November, 2025
Signed by: Dr. Corey A. Jackson, Assemblymember 60th District
Thank you to Marie Waldron and Kelly Seyarto, in their roles as California Assemblymembers, for honoring Tiffany’s 20 years of service to youth and families with a formal recognition from the California State Assembly (Members Resolution No. 1241), presented on November 6, 2021.
“Whereas, Tiffany Baker, founder of The Empowerment Center and respected community leader, child advocate, and entrepreneur, has brought credit and distinction to herself through her career and civic achievements and has significantly improved the quality of life within the local community and beyond through her efforts, and it is appropriate at this time to highlight her many accomplishments and extend to her special honors and the highest commendations…
Whereas, a true model of resilience, Tiffany Baker began formulating her vision during her days as a foster youth, when, at age 18, she made the decision to adopt her two younger sisters out of an unsafe home environment, completely transforming the face of her family and interrupting its negative trajectory, with her humanitarian and relational approach to her own family and others who crossed her path becoming the blueprint for the next two decades of work as a hospital chaplain, pastor, child advocate, and government board and commission chair; and
Whereas, In 2005, Tiffany founded The Empowerment Center in Temecula, a center that operates as a safe place for youth and families to overcome their adversities through resilience-building and strengths-based solutions, serving group homes, school districts, public and private agencies, and Native American tribes as a community hub for nonprofit organizations and agencies to form valuable community partnerships and receive professional development; and
Whereas, Currently chairing the City of Temecula’s inaugural Race, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Commission and the Community Action Partnership of Riverside County, Tiffany partners with policymakers to bring a humanitarian approach to policy that has a positive impact on youth and families, and her advocacy efforts are felt at the local, state, and federal levels; and
Whereas, the contributions that Tiffany Baker has made to the people of the State of California have been invaluable, and her service and dedicated leadership have left a lasting legacy of hope and resilience for the youth and families of Temecula, Riverside, and San Diego counties and beyond; and now, therefore, be it
Resolved by Assemblymembers Marie Waldron and Kelly Seyarto, that Tiffany Baker be extended deep appreciation for her advocacy efforts on behalf of the unseen and the underserved—the children, society’s most at risk members.
Members Resolution No. 1241
Dated this 6th day of November, 2021
Signed by: Honorable Marie Waldron, 75th Assembly District | Honorable Kelly Seyarto, 67th Assembly District
Thank you to the City of Temecula for honoring Tiffany’s 20 years of service
in their roles as Mayor Maryann Edwards, Mayor Pro Tem Matt Rahn,
and City Clerk Randi Johl. We are deeply grateful for the City’s partnership and the shared
commitment to creating lasting impact for Temecula’s youth and families.
“City of Temecula Certificate of Recognition presented on behalf of the City Council and the citizens of the City of Temecula to Tiffany Baker — The City of Temecula is proud to recognize Tiffany Baker for her service, dedication and commitment to the youth and families of the community.
Tiffany’s own early childhood experiences have been foundational to her two decades of work as a hospital chaplain, pastor, and child advocate.
In addition to being a community leader, Tiffany is also an entrepreneur. In 2005, Tiffany founded The Empowerment Center, a safe place for youth and families to overcome adversity through resilience-building and strengths-based solutions.
Through her humanitarian and relational approach, Tiffany consults and trains youth, families, and service organizations to build and maintain healthy relationships and foster positive community impact.
For the past 20+ years, Tiffany’s work with children, families, group homes, school districts, public and private agencies, and Native American tribes, has left a legacy of hope.
Tiffany currently serves on the City of Temecula’s inaugural Race, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (REDI) Commission and the Community Action Partnership Commission of Riverside County.
We are proud of Tiffany’s service to her community and wish her well on all her future endeavors.”
Tiffany founded The Empowerment Center as a place where people could be restored — not judged. It’s a reflection of everything she believes in: housing that heals, training that uplifts, and programs that treat people like human beings, not numbers. Whether working with youth leaving foster care or young parents finding their first job, she leads with love and structure — because both are needed.
Tiffany is a dynamic voice for community transformation, grounded in experience and truth. She speaks to faith-based audiences, civic leaders, school boards, and young people alike — always pointing back to purpose, healing, and service.
In Their Own Words…
“Tiffany exudes a level of expertise needed for at-risk youth. She reaches children from all types of diverse backgrounds and experiences, by reaching across gender, race, and cultural barriers and speaking directly to the heart.”
– Tammy Wilson, CEO of Oak Grove Center
“Ms. Baker is a committed community advocate, an educator, a mentor, an encourager. All of these skills are assets to The Empowerment Center and all of their clients.”
– Kim Saruwatari, MPH. Director of Riverside County Public Health Department
“Ms. Baker provides strong leadership and consistently demonstrates fidelity to proper governance, the organization’s mission, and the community we intend to serve.”
– Dr. Justine G.M. Ross, Associate Director of Blum Initiative on Global and Regional Poverty, University of California Riverside
“I know Ms. Baker as a person of integrity who ensures that each person on a commission and in programs sponsored by that commission has an opportunity to be heard, to be valued, and to be included.”
– Mary P. Morse, President of Human Relations Council of the Greater Hemet, San Jacinto and Menifee Regions
“Tiffany brings her life-long experiences of interacting with people from diverse backgrounds to bridge the social and cultural divisions among residents and forge a more cohesive city.”
– David Starr Rabb, Esq., Councilman for the City of Perris
“She is a community leader with a passion for unity and a talent for bridging the gap between various organizations and government agencies.”
– Supervisor Chuck Washington, Riverside County Third District Supervisor
SERVICES
© 2026 — The Empowerment Center.
