Linda Gail Pinkava Silakoski

For Linda Gail Pinkava Silakoski, the road to becoming a highly-respected child advocate began with great teachers and options. “The sciences fascinated me, and I was chosen for an experimental program in advanced chemistry and physics,” Silakoski said. “I wound up being the only girl in the program. … I learned to question, experiment and achieve.” But, in the late 1960s, women were not equal to men in the eyes of society at large, she said. “My teachers invigorated and mentored me, but society discouraged me. … Ultimately, I didn’t pursue the sciences, but I did become an advocate, public speaker and teacher.” Born in Cleveland in 1952, Silakoski attended Willoughby-Eastlake City Schools through the third grade, then Mayfield City Schools, where she graduated in 1970. She earned a music education degree from the University of Mount Union and taught music privately. She also served on the Board of Directors of the American Association of University Women’s Educational Foundation. At age 44, Silakoski graduated from the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law while raising two children and working part time. She later worked as an assistant Ashtabula County prosecutor. In 1999, she launched her own law practice. Silakoski testifies as an expert witness on immigration law issues; teaches legal studies at Lake Erie College as an adjunct professor; and speaks nationwide on many topics, including immigration and naturalization policy, nonprofit management and change management. She also provides pro bono representation to victims of international human trafficking and child abduction, battered and abused non-U.S. citizens and U.S. military families dealing with immigration issues. Additionally, she has diplomatic, embassy and consular relations experience. Silakoski is a founding member and director of the Slovenian Museum and Archives in Cleveland and HOLA (Hispanas Organizadas de Lake y Ashtabula).