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Facets

 

The Links, Incorporated is an organization of accomplished, dedicated women who are active in your community. The Links members are newsmakers, role models, mentors, activists and volunteers who work toward the realization of making the name “Links” not only a chain of friendship, but also a chain of purposeful service.

 

The outstanding programming of The Links, Incorporated has five facets which include National Trends and Services, The Arts, Services to Youth, International Trends and Services and Health and Human Services. The Facets are implemented through strategies such as public information and education, economic development, and public policy campaigns.

 


Services
To Youth

The
Arts

National
Trends & Services

International
Trends & Services

Health &

Human Services

 

Services to Youth


The Services to Youth facet is an integrated approach to preparing young people to succeed in the 21st century workforce. The primary goals of this facet are to:

  • Promote early literacy

  • Implement local mentoring programs from kindergarten through college

  • Close the academic achievement gaps from kindergarten through college

  • Introduce and support Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S.T.E.M.) education and career readiness

  • Implement college readiness programs

  • Increase high school and college graduation rates

  • Award college scholarships and build educational endowments

  • Promote and support Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)

Chapter Involvement
• “Hit the Links” Charity Golf Tournament. An annual golf tournament to raise funds for scholarships. To date, three tournaments have taken place with scholarships given to six area high school students. The “Hit the Links” charity golf tournament is the only such event in the community sponsored by an all-female African American organization.
• Boys and Girls Club. We provided backpacks to the Fredericksburg Area Boys & Girls Club for attendance at a youth forum.
• Book Drive. For two consecutive years, we have provided an African American-themed book to each of the Fredericksburg area elementary school libraries.

 

The Arts


The GOAL of The Arts facet is to increase and expand art activity, and elevate our programs through arts integration and effectively create an arts renaissance within our organization and programmatic efforts.

 

Chapter Involvement
• Harambee 360 degrees Experimental Theatre Black Arts Festival - Celebrating the richness of African American culture

• John J. Wright Educational and Cultural Arts Center Museum, Spotsylvania, VA.

 

National Trends & Services


The VISION of the National Trends and Services facet is to eliminate disparities by reducing barriers to services through advocacy, education, and service. Our MISSION is to empower our chapters to effectively empower the communities in which we work. Our GOALS include increasing the number of sustainable and measurable programs; increasing collaborative partnerships; and extending our existing initiatives to include communities identified as having the greatest need.

 

Chapter Involvement
• Healthy Living: Million Pound Challenge

• Census Bureau

• Martin Luther King, Jr. Sunday Supper event to benefit area Veterans.

• Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday - Day of Action food drive.

 

International Trends & Services


The mission of the International Trends and Services facet is to expand the global platform for programs designed and developed to service the educational, health and cultural needs of people of African descent throughout the world. All programmatic components of the facet are delivered through measurable and sustainable service delivery methods that reach women and their families.

 

Chapter Involvement
• Topsy Foundation of South Africa that partners with rural communities empowering people infected with, and affected by, HIV and AIDS through medical care, social support and skills development.
• The United Nations Population Fund for Obstetrics Fistula awareness and prevention efforts in Ghana.
• Girls Scouts to send needed supplies to women in Haiti. The requested items included buttons and thread.
• Word Healing Outreach Ministries, Inc. in Uganda, Africa, to provide clean water for poor communities, health education, sewing machines as vocational tools to remote villages, and funds to purchase goats for families to create a sustainable livelihood.

 

Health & Human Services


The mission of the Health and Human Services facet 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 can play a significant role in providing it.

 

Chapter Involvement
• Conducted a health fair with a local area community center geared towards senior citizens. Workshops were facilitated by area doctors on various medical procedures and first aid kits were distributed.
• 13th Annual Barbara Hicks Geslock Women's Forum. Members distributed information regarding healthy living to the participants of the forum.
• Fredericksburg Area Sickle Cell Anemia 5k Walk.
• Relay for Life.
• Fredericksburg Area Food Bank and contributes to their after school nutrition program.
• Financial support to holiday food drives via the Department of Social Services’ agencies in our service area.
• Go Red For Women Happy Hour to bring awareness to the National Wear Red Dress campaign by the American Heart Association. Heart Health Kits were provided to all attendees with Go Red Dress label pins.