Barbara Linek began her career as an educator, teaching English to immigrant students from all over the world. Realizing the value of the relationships she built with the parents of her students, she left the classroom and moved into family literacy, where she could impact the future of the entire family. After completing a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership at Lewis University, she became the DuPage County Director for University of Illinois Extension, providing leadership for community education programs. When University of Illinois Extension became a partner in Family Bridges in 2006, Ms. Linek found her passion for its core mission: strengthening families. From personal experience, she knows that strong families are the foundation of society. She joined Family Bridges in 2010 and serves now as Event and Community Outreach Coordinator, sharing her passion for this work with others.