Her leisure education and consulting clients include individuals, couples,
groups, non-profit organizations, correctional facilities and other
government entities, professional organizations, and corporations. Her work
serves people throughout their lifespan, from children through seniors.
When you meet Alison, be ready for her favorite question: "How's your leisure life?" It doesn't matter who you are.
Alison seems to have leisure education in her blood. She comes from a line of people who were serious about recreation and leisure.
Alison's grandfather owned a summer camp, taught education at Brooklyn College, and was a recreation officer when in the navy. She spent summers with her family at different summer camps (as a camper and then as a counselor) where her dad was head counselor or director, and a lot of time in school-based and family leisure and recreation during the rest of the year, as well.
It is not surprising that after graduating from Brown and doing community service overseas, her thoughts about what she could do to help people reach their full potential and achieve life fulfillment, turned to leisure. With some serious digging, she discovered graduate programs in leisure studies.
Now she spends most of her life "at leisure."
"At this point in my life, I almost always feel that I am in a state of leisure. I do have obligation, but I choose almost all that I do and I feel "free," she notes.
After Alison completed her Master of Arts in recreation and leisure studies she worked as assistant director at a camping program for teens. She also ran programs for adults, including developing lay leadership at a community center. After several years, during which she presented at a number of conferences, she decided to pursue a doctorate degree.
She received her PhD in social welfare. She views leisure as a social justice issue, and has been working with prisoners, former prisoners and correctional facilities since starting her doctoral work. She has been director of leisure education at correctional facilities in New Jersey, where she was proud to be known as "The Leisure Lady" by her clients. Her dissertation examines the relationship between rehabilitation and leisure functioning of indiiduals approaching release from prison.
Ms. Link is a member of the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), the New York State Parks and Recreation Society (NYSPRS), Ladies Who Launch, In Good Company (a community workspace for women entrepreneurs) and a charter member of the International Association of Reentry. She is also a co-chair of the Leisure Education Committee of the World Leisure Association. She holds certification in Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) from the Albert Ellis Institute.
Alison lives in Morrisville, Vermont with her husband David and two young children. She can be found "leisuring" in pursuit of social justice issues, volunteering, connecting with new people, meditating, playing sports, being in the outdoors, creating, participating in the local time bank, attending cultural events, listening to and playing music, spending quality time with family and friends and finding other ways to live a balanced and fulfilling life.
