Barbara has been with First 5 Merced County since January, 2006. Born and raised in the small farming community of Dos Palos, Barbara left Merced County after high school to pursue her art career and education.

As the first member of her family to complete college, Barbara received two Bachelors’ of Art degrees from the University of California, Berkeley in Native American /Ethnic Studies and Fine Art. In addition, she has fulfilled a year of graduate work in Public Policy and Law at the Goldman Institute of Public Policy at UC Berkeley. Upon completion of her studies, Barbara returned to the valley in 2002 to raise her daughter as well as caring for numerous foster children.

Her work experience includes 10 years in marketing/communications, 10 years in management and program development, and 4 years in the ECE/education field as a child care provider and substitute teacher. Barbara has founded two 501(c)3 non-profit organizations, working with numerous indigenous groups throughout the Americas, and is also a professional artist that has shown her work throughout Northern California.