Bridget Baker

Lafayette, Indiana
Greater Lafayette Threshold Singers

In July of 2018, a group of singers from my community choir met to form what would become the Greater Lafayette Threshold Singers. I have since become the director of our chapter. I grew up in the middle of the East Texas woods in the 1970s and 80s where I developed a love of music – singing as well as playing several instruments. Growing up in a chaotic environment, I leaned heavily into my music for calming my anxiety. In 1990, I moved to Indiana for a graduate degree in botany and decided to stay here. I am semi-retired from doing research in the biological sciences and teaching. Currently, I tutor kids with learning difficulties, after school.

In addition to my tutoring, I am active in the local community choir where I sing and contribute to the administrative running of the choir. I enjoy growing exotic house plants and gardening in the summer. My current plant obsession is growing unusual succulents from seeds. I am heavily invested – emotionally and financially – in arts and crafts. I am involved in several ongoing projects in my community such as making baby mittens for local organizations that have interactions with young families. They give the mittens to protect infants and toddlers in the winter months. Other crafts I do on a regular basis include sewing, embroidery, crochet, card making and playing with my Cricut machine. I am owned by two cats who have earned me the name “Cat Lady” by the neighborhood kids.

Much of the compassion I have for others has come from my own mental health journey and struggle. I have dealt with profound depression and severe PTSD stemming from childhood trauma. Recovery from these and ongoing anxiety has made me a much more compassionate person and is a driving force behind many of the choices I make about involvement with the community around me. This includes not only being a member of a Threshold Choir and serving on the board, but also my work with kids who need help after school and making sure babies have warm hands in the winter.