Jack of All Arts

A. Cornelius Baker

A black and white portrait of Cornelius Baker standing with arms crossed in front of a brick building with a pride flag. He wears a suit and glasses, looking confidently at the camera. In the background, a person walks past the building.
Cornelius Baker sits on a wooden chair in a formal portrait. He wears a dark suit with a patterned tie and glasses. The background has a soft gradient of warm tones, and he looks directly at the camera with a composed expression.
Cornelius Baker speaks at a press conference, standing in front of a chart displaying data on HIV/AIDS cases. He wears glasses, a light-colored suit, and a dark tie while addressing an audience with a serious expression.
Cornelius Baker is seen at a social event, wearing a white and blue striped suit with a bright orange tie. He has a relaxed expression with a slight smile, and the background features dim lighting and a hanging lamp.
Cornelius Baker smiles warmly while wearing a navy blue baseball cap with a peace symbol, tortoiseshell glasses, and a gray sweatshirt. The background includes a cityscape with windows reflecting the sky.
Cornelius Baker sits at a panel discussion, smiling while speaking into a microphone. A nameplate in front of him reads "Cornelius Baker." Beside him, another panelist in a pink sequined outfit listens attentively.

Early Life and Education

A. Cornelius Baker was born on September 30, 1961, in Sodus, New York. He spent part of his early childhood in Apopka, Florida, raised by his maternal grandmother, Fannie Baker, before moving to Syracuse, New York, to live with his mother, Shirley Baker, who worked as a social worker and family services coordinator for New York State Correctional Services. His father was Adel Robinson.

Baker pursued an education in comparative literature with a focus on theater at Eisenhower College. During his studies, he completed internships in cultural institutions, including at the Kennedy Center, and earned a B.A. in 1983.

Career

Baker’s career spanned over three decades, during which he held leadership roles in various organizations. Some of his notable positions include:

  1. Arts Editor for Washington City Paper: In 1983, Baker worked as an arts editor for the Washington City Paper.
  2. Executive Assistant to Carol Schwartz: From 1985, Baker served as an executive assistant to Carol Schwartz, a member of the D.C. City Council.
  3. Confidential Assistant to the Assistant Secretary for Health: Between 1989 and 1992, Baker worked as Confidential Assistant to the Assistant Secretary for Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
  4. Policy Director at the National Association of People with AIDS: In 1992, Baker became policy director at the National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA). He eventually rose to the position of executive director and played a key role in establishing National HIV Testing Day on June 27.
  5. Executive Director of the Whitman-Walker Clinic: From 1999 to 2004, Baker served as executive director of the Whitman-Walker Clinic, addressing both the clinic’s financial difficulties and his own health challenges while continuing to expand access to HIV/AIDS care.

Baker also held various other roles in his career, including:

  • Adviser to the National Black Gay Men’s Advocacy Coalition
  • Position at the U.S. Department of State’s Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator and Health Diplomacy, contributing to President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) initiatives aimed at addressing the global HIV/AIDS epidemic.
  • Work with the National Institutes of Health’s Office of AIDS Research and participation in the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS
  • Board positions with organizations such as Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation

Personal Life and Death

Baker identified as gay and was diagnosed as HIV-positive during the early years of the AIDS epidemic. His long-term partner was Gregory Nevins, a senior counsel at Lambda Legal, whom he was together with for 20 years.

Sadly, Baker passed away on November 8, 2024, at the age of 63, due to hypertensive atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease at his home in Washington, D.C.

Go Back
Index
Home

Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

→ Index