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The Links, Incorporated has a long tradition of promoting and engaging in educational, civic and inter-cultural activities that enrich the lives of members of the Black community at large. The cornerstone of our service is our five programming facets — Services to Youth, The Arts, National Trends and Services, International Trends and Services, and Health and Human Services. Through our facets, we implement programs and initiatives that address the most critical needs of under-served communities. Annually, we impact the lives of more than 3 million people at home and abroad.
The Services to Youth facet uses an integrated approach to prepare young people to succeed as healthy citizens in the global workforce and to promote healthy lifestyles within families and communities. In support of The Links’ mission to enrich and enhance the lives of Black youth, the primary goals of this facet are to:
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Close the achievement gap from pre-K through college, with the intent of preparing our youth for the global workforce as healthy citizens
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Develop training modules for local pre-K through college mentoring programs, to ascertain a high level of support for youth in our communities
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Expand and support science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education
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Promote and support historically black colleges and universities for ensured sustainability.
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The Eastern Area Services to Youth facet has supported The Links, Incorporated Links STEMReady Signature Program via programming with Black Girls Code, and WildSTEMS, providing support to National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) Jr. Chapters chartered within the region.
Notable also, has been the Eastern Area Services to Youth support and promotion of The Links Incorporated’s National Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Initiative. In partnership with the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund (TMSF), the Eastern Area has on an annual basis surpassed its fundraising expectations due to the tremendous support of Area chapters, as well as individual Link Sisters’ contributions. In addition to raising funds for HBCU’s, the Eastern Area Services to Youth facet has provided financial wellness programming under Our Money Matters.
The Eastern Area Services to Youth will continue to support HBCU’s in partnership with TMSF, via integrated programming. In collaboration with the Eastern Area Health and Human Services and National Trends and Services facets, the programming will feature topics on mental and physical health, as well as financial literacy and voter registration.
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The National Trends and Services facet addresses the social inequities that persist in Black communities throughout the United States. The Links, Incorporated is committed to raising awareness on economic, health, social justice and other barriers that affect our quality of life. Our goal is to eliminate disparities in these areas for the betterment of our communities.
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In collaboration with The Links, Incorporated national partner The National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) and Eastern Area facets, Services to Youth and Health Human and Services, National Trends and Services will launch an integrated program, “The Young People’s Justice Agenda.” Programming will feature topics focused on educating young people on their rights, interactions with the police, social justice, dating violence and future career opportunities.
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The goal of the Arts Facet is to increase and expand art activity throughout Black communities. The Links, Incorporated creates and supports art-related educational opportunities for minority youth as well as presents and supports performances by youth and accomplished professional artists in an array of disciplines. In partnership with museums, symphonies, arts councils, educational institutes, and corporations to support arts programs, especially where there is a focus on artists of color.
The Eastern Area Arts facet has personalized the National Program, Young Masters Writers Program Competition, branding it as, “YM 2.0.” Launched as an umbrella program High School competition featuring writing, drama, music, and dance. Students, identified by Links Chapters across the Area, are provided an opportunity to showcase their talents during the competition and receive monetary awards for their artistic expressions. As an umbrella program, all facets will contribute content related to their facet, as well as reviewers for any submission related to their respective facet.
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The International Trends and Services facet provides services and delivers transformational programs to people of African ancestry globally so that they may have a better quality of life. Programs are designed and developed to service educational, health and cultural needs and to help people emerge from poverty. A primary objective of our international work is to enrich the lives of women and their families.
Supporting the Education Across the Miles Signature Program, the Eastern Area International Trends and Services facet focused on the Linking with West Africa Initiative. In furtherance of a longstanding partnership with Monrovia College (for high school students) and the AME University, both located in Liberia, the Eastern Area successfully launched a $50,000 campaign to provide four fully furnished STEM laboratories for the students. Proudly one of the laboratories is named in honor of one of the Eastern Area’s beloved Platinum members, Dr. Marcella Maxwell.
The Eastern Area International Trends and Services will continue its focus on Monrovia, operating under the National Signature Program - Education Across the Miles as an umbrella program. The facets will provide services to the students, as they will be part of programming covering health awareness, participating in the YM 2.0, financial literacy, climate change and careers in STEM.
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The Links, Incorporated established the Health and Human Services facet in response to the chronic health disparities that persist in Black communities and result in the decreased life expectancy of African Americans and other people of African ancestry. The goal of HHS is to promote and facilitate programs that support the maintenance of good health and the elimination of chronic health disparities in communities of color through education, health advocacy, and optimal utilization of health resources. Community education about health risks is crucial and The Links, Incorporated plays a significant role in providing it.
To achieve this goal of community health focused education, the Eastern Area Health and Human Services facet developed a comprehensive umbrella program in alignment with the National Mental Health Initiative, centered on Black Family Health, covering topics for women, men, and children.
Together the facets will direct programming on mental and physical health, breast cancer awareness for women and men and its impact on the family, childhood obesity and tissue and organ donation. Additionally, as part of the expansion, students at HBCU’s and in Monrovia will be part of the programming.
As we prepare for the upcoming program year, the Eastern Area facets looks forward to continuing to provide our communities with impactful and transformational programming.