The Wilmington, NC Chapter of The Links, Inc.

One of the Signature Programs of  The Links, Incorporated is the fight against childhood obesity. The Chapter Umbrella Program is centered on this issue and during 2009-2010 all facets focused their efforts on addressing childhood obesity in our community.

The International Trends and Services Facet arranged with Mrs. Valerie Lingo, proprietor of Jamaica's Comfort Zone restaurant in Wilmington to host children from Girls, Incorporated at her restaurant. She engaged the girls in a discussion of "eating from the land." The children learned about and tasted foods native to Jamaica and healthy Jamaican cooking. Following the lunch, we attended the Intercultural Festival at the University of North Carolina Wilmington.

Link Barbara with Girls, Inc. children

More photographs of our fun day of International eating and learning, February 20, 2010. 

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Photos by Link Gloria Monroe.

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For those who wanted some more information about Mamaa Kits and The Links partnership with the program,  here are some links to information you will find informative.

Maama Kits From Medilinks Africa: http://bit.ly/bX6yvK

Maama Kit: Making Childbirth Cleaner and Safer:  http://bit.ly/bnL18O

Please purchase a Maama Kit (10 dollars!) whenever you can.  It doesn't cost much, but it helps a great deal.

Link Daisy Larkins was killed in an automobile accident on Thursday, December 17, 2009. Link Daisy will be greatly missed by our chapter, our community and the children she served.

Pender High teacher Daisy Larkins remembered for calm, caring | StarNewsOnline.com | Star News | Wilmington, NC http://bit.ly/8tkEID

Link Bennye N. Davis,  mother of Link Sadie Davis Graham and the owner of French I. Davis Funeral Home, passed away early Thursday morning, January 7, 2010 at Davis Health Care Center.

Her family will receive friends at 933 Church Street, Navassa, NC and at Davis Funeral Home- Jordan Memorial Chapel, 901 S. 5th Avenue, Wilmington, NC.  Funeral arrangements will be announced by Davis Funeral Home-Jordan Memorial Chapel.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 10, 2009
Healthcare Reform Statement from Dr. Gwendolyn Lee
National President of The Links, Incorporated
[Washington, DC] [September 10, 2009] – Dr. Gwendolyn Lee, National President of The Links, Incorporated issued the following statement regarding the ongoing debate over healthcare reform:
“Regardless of where one stands politically, one cannot deny the fact that there is an unmet need for affordable high quality health care for all Americans. There are millions of people out there, many who come from minority communities, in desperate need of comprehensive health care reform. In a society with so much compassion and generosity, it is inconceivable to force disadvantaged populations to sacrifice their basic medical needs. There has been too much dissent and confusion around what is a very simple issue. Healthcare should be affordable and available for everyone.”

Dr. Lee shared these thoughts in a recent communication to members of The Links, Inc., that stated, in part:
“These are very trying times as various groups confound and confuse those who perhaps would benefit the most from the proposed health care reform. They are drowning out voices so that all facts are not presented at various town hall meetings and community assemblies. I ask that you attend your town hall meetings, speak up, ask clarifying questions and, when misinformation is transmitted, politely correct the record or ask the Congressperson or Senator to cite and forward actual and factual passages addressing that issue to you and all present.  Educate your friends and family and others who express an interest. It is important that we all are informed so that we can make the right choices for us, those Americans who are less endowed, children, our elderly, etc. Nobody should have to make a choice between medicine and food. Nobody should have to wait for or not receive medical care because they can’t afford it. We are better than that!

Our interests and concerns start from infancy and progress to the elderly. From our international Maama Kits initiative which assists mothers by providing sanitary conditions during childbirth, to our partnership with the AARP, we are working hard to help meet the health care needs of the most at-risk populations. Not only do we focus on the young and the elderly, but we also reach everyone in between, even caregivers, through programs like Links to Oral Health and Project ALERT (an Alzheimer’s care initiative). Unlike the current healthcare system, our programs ensure that no one falls through the cracks.”

The Links, Inc., has long been involved in health related causes. Through their health- focused programs such as HeartLinks, members are advocating preventive care to combat heart disease. Partnering with The Heart Truth’s Community Action Program, Chapters of The Links, Inc. have implemented an effective, proactive and result-oriented program that promotes heart health.

The Linkages to Life program sponsored by The Links, Inc. has also educated thousands about the benefits of organ and tissue donation and raised money to fund those in need. The Links, Inc. knows the impact of late diagnosis of cancer and other diseases, and the organization’s partnership with Susan G. Komen for the Cure has helped to raise awareness of and provided linkages for early detection and treatment. Recently, The Links, Inc. empanelled a Commission of experts to engage in childhood obesity prevention to give special attention to health disparities and environmental inequities that disproportionately affect minority children living in low-income communities. These organizations and agencies are charged with facilitating coalition building, collaboration and support across communities and programs by informing organizations, agencies, and schools of how to combat the childhood obesity epidemic.

Dr. Lee continued, “As an organization, our programming history shows we know that access to care is a disparity that significantly affects African Americans. Our programs have been designed to lessen this gap. Armed with this understanding, we continue to make our voices heard in the town hall meetings and community assemblies so that the facts are no longer drowned out. The need for comprehensive health reform is there, and we as an organization are working to ensure that the basic healthcare needs of Americans are met for all.”

The Links, Incorporated is an international, women's non-profit, social welfare and service organization of over 12,000 members in 270 chapters across the United States, and the Bahamas. It was founded in 1946. From its inception, the organization's members have been developing and implementing programs that target issues affecting its members and communities. Community service has been the corner stone of the organization's outreach with members contributing more than 500,000 documented hours of community service annually. For the past 60 years, The Links, Incorporated has been internationally known for its programs that are focused on topics such as health, economics and education, youth, and policy efforts.

Link Gloria Monroe is the featured speaker at the October 26 meeting of The Sister Cities Association of Wilmington dinner program. The meeting will start at 6:00 p.m. at the Downtown branch of the New Hanover County Public Library. The program will explore modern Tanzania without the dangers of the bush. Link Gloria, an IBM executive who participated in a Service Corps project in Tanzania is a member of the Wilmington, North Carolina Chapter of The Links, Inc. She serves on the International Trends and Services Facet.

International Trends and Services
“You do not have to travel internationally to make an impact globally”

The Global Trilogy of International Trends and Services, Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), and the Signature Program, “Education Across the Miles” mission 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 components of the Global Trilogy will execute a measurable delivery model created to reach women and their families through long-term programs committed to economic empowerment, education for youth, health initiatives and public policy leadership in advocating for social justice.  The programs are enhanced through partnership, mentorship and advocacy.    It is imperative that programs are accessible to the chapter’s membership as well as those in the Diaspora.

International Trends and Services Initiatives

Safe Motherhood: To develop programs that address the issues of Family Planning, Antennal Care, Clean and Safe Delivery, and Essential Obstetric Care Preventable death    and disability among mothers and expectant mothers are all-encompassing tragedies for families, for communities, for societies, and most of all, for children.

Safe Motherhood supports basic maternity, primary health care initiatives and equity for women.

•    Clean and Safe Delivery: “Mama Kits” were developed by the Uganda Ministry in Health in 1997.  In 2003, the World Health Organization (WHO), Ministry of Health, and The Links revitalized the program.
Action:  Expand the program and partnerships to include broader territory in Africa and the Caribbean.
•    Primary Health Care: Water Wells, Electricity and other related needs.
Action:  Continue Chapter support.  Expand the program initiative to cover more African countries and look at aboveground wells for safety/purity (Mozambique, Kenya, other African nations and Haiti).
•    Family Planning/Primary Health Care: HIV/AIDS Projects–New to agenda, but critical globally.
•    Essential Obstetric: Fistula Obstetric fistula is a hole in the birth canal caused by prolonged labor without prompt medical intervention, usually a Caesarean section. The woman is left with chronic incontinence and, in most cases, a stillborn baby.
•    Basic Maternity: Education and Nutrition
•    Equity for Women: Mentoring program for African and Caribbean Women interested in nursing and other programs that promote equity in women.  This includes initiatives that provide for safe heaven for mother and child(ren).

Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO)

Exploring Women Empowerment
Program:  Economic Empowerment for Women (Mentoring) Program Objective:  Support programs that provide economic empowerment for African women and their families.  Offer Link Chapters the option to work with one of three programs endorsed by The Links ITS Committee, such as:

•    Public Policy Issues: The Links Care
Objective:  The Links would take an impartial position on issues affecting the Good of Mankind.  Example:  Genocides in Rwanda and Darfur.

Darfur
o    Chapters can start a letter writing campaign to the Congressional Chair of the International Committee.
o    The Links, Incorporated ITS would draft a generic letter for Chapters to use and provide buttons with “The Links Care” on them.
o    ITS would arrange for the National President to meet with Congressman Gregory Meeks of New York, African-American Congressman on the International Committee.
o    “The Links Care”—create a symbol and button to support the position taken:  Darfur, AIDS, Orphans or Women issues of inequality.
Action: Darfur letter, special “The Links Care” button or ribbon, meeting with Congressman Gregory Meeks and National President of The Links, Incorporated.

•    The Model UN
Objective: Chapters will work with historically Black colleges and universities as well as middle and secondary schools to encourage and inspire students to become interested in international and world affairs through the work of the UN.

“Education Across the Miles” ITS Signature Program (Mentoring, Partnership, Advocacy)  “Education Across the Miles” will focus on the  commitment to support and refurbish schools in Africa to make a direct difference      in the lives of African families.
Program:  Continue to focus on the commitment to support and refurbish schools in Africa to make a difference in the lives of African families.

•    Program Objective:  Provide sponsoring Chapters with status reports on schools
•    Program Objective:  Include schools developed by Chapters in other countries under the EATM umbrella
•    Program Objective: Develop strategies to maintain and support schools
•    Program Objective:  Develop additional partnership to assist in supporting the initiative

JKB/aa (International Trends & Services 2007)

National Trends and Services

The programmatic thrust of this facet has been to provide community programs that increase awareness of issues that affect the quality of life of African Americans. During this biennium, the National Trends and Services facet will address the significant economic and social inequalities that continue to persist amongst African Americans in the United States. These disparities significantly affect African Americans in the areas of education, income, health, employment, and other social indicators of wellbeing. As the leadership and chapters of The Links, Incorporated examine “national trends” to plan “services” that will make an impact on our communities, it is clear that racial and ethnic disparities are the underlying factors that lead to those issues of concern identified and addressed by our programming.

The VISION of the National Trends and Services Facet is to eliminate disparities so as to reduce barriers to services through leadership, education, and service. Our MISSION is to empower our membership so that we can effectively empower the communities in which we work. Our goals include increasing the number of sustainable, measurable programming; increasing collaboratives, partnerships, and program funding; and extend our existing initiatives to include those that most affect African Americans.

Currently, National Trends and Services encompasses the following linkages, signature programs, and committees, each committed to the overall vision and mission of the facet:

•

• Health Linkage

• Linkages to Life Signature Program

• Walk for Health and Hunger Signature Program

• Women’s Issues and Empowerment Committee

National Trends and Services Program Highlights:

General Motors and Safe Kids Partnership: The Links partnered with GM and Safe Kids to donate $50 million to provide car seats for needy families and help families practice vehicle safety.

Linkages to Life: 2006 marks the fifth anniversary of Linkages to Life™, The Links’ Organ, Tissue and Bone Marrow Donation program which encourages more African Americans to become donors. Linkages to Life™ has reached tens of thousands of people through the Sunday at Church Program.

The Gift of Life: What African Americans Need to Know About Organ Donations. A film created by the Metro-Manhattan Chapter and sponsored by HBO during the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival received national attention.

Hurricane Katrina: Response to this tragedy included a Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund to assist displaced evacuees. The Links, Incorporated also partnered with the Children’s Defense Fund, Women of the Storm, and The Links Foundation to respond to the needs of displaced victims and support of Universities in the area.

Renewal of the “Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks, and Coretta Scott King Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments of 2006.” Links across the country worked with Congress and other interest groups to achieve this important piece of legislation.

No Child Left Behind Act: Links work with schools to support children. A public information and education campaign about the No Child Left Behind Act will kick off on February 27, 2007 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. The Links, Incorporated will present a public issues forum entitled The No Child Left Behind Act: Is it on the Right Path or Path to Nowhere? The forum will examine the impact of the No Child Left Behind Act and its impact on the drop out crisis and the increasing rates of incarceration for young people of color generally and young men of color in particular.

The Doris Miller Signature Campaign to obtain the Medal of Honor for Heroism in World War II: Links are in the process of obtaining 1 million signatures to encourage Congress and the President to award the Congressional Medal of Honor to World War II hero sailor Doris Miller.

Rosa Parks Stature to be placed in Statuary Hall, U. S. Capitol: Links attend signing of historic bill H.R. 4145 authorizing a stature of civil rights icon to be placed in ceremony.

Heart Truth Campaign: As a partner in the National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s “Heart Truth Campaign,” The Links, Incorporated, has integrated “Heart Truth” activities at all levels of our organizational infrastructure to include National, Area, and local Chapter foci, including “National Wear Red Day,” at our National Assembly and conducting workshops to educate the membership of over 10,000 Links on the importance of heart disease awareness. Currently, NHLBI is funding four chapters to implement cardiovascular education activities.

Cardiovascular Disease Grant: In partnership with the University of California, Davis, 10 Links Chapters were funded to implement a four phase cardiovascular education and behavioral change intervention.

Walk for Health and Hunger Walk-A-Thon: Each September, Links Chapters participate in the “Walk for Health and Hunger” a Signature Program that calls attention to health issues of the day. Chapters may partner with organizations, and proceeds go to Links programming.

Childhood Obesity Initiative: In keeping with our National Resolution, The Links will receive funding and implement a childhood obesity awareness program targeted to families in an effort to raise awareness about and reduce childhood obesity.

Services to Youth

Services to Youth is focusing on providing a range of innovative, substantive and sustainable Pre-K-16 programming which contribute proven results to key educational or social/community issues. Our Mission is “Links seizing the opportunity to help our youth achieve.”  These opportunities may vary some from Chapter to Chapter, but all programs will be able to show a positive impact on the children we serve. We are excited to announce that Services to Youth and Education Linkage have joined forces in order to create and sustain synergy of youth-related programming. The areas of concentration are:

• Area I: Pre-K-3
  • § Primary Focus: Literacy
  • § Spotlight Program: Links to Success: Children Achieving Excellence
• Area II: Grades 4-8
  • § Primary Focus: Health & Wellness Education, After-School Programming, Drug Awareness
  • § Spotlight Program: Project LEAD: High Expectations
• Area III: Grades 9-12
  • § Primary Focus: College Readiness, HIV/AIDS Awareness, Etiquette, Mentoring
  • § Spotlight Program: Achievers Program
• Area IV: Grades 12-16
  • § Primary Focus: Scholarships, HBCUs
  • § Spotlight Program: TBD

The Links, Incorporated maintains a strong leadership role in addressing the critical issues of public education with respect to the digital divide, reduced enrollment of African American males in post secondary education, and leveraging the No Child Left Behind legislation to improve student performance. We are committed to partnering with community education projects that include health education, mentoring, reading, tutoring, after-school programming, providing computer hardware and software, computer assisted instruction, SAT preparation, test-taking skill development and career awareness workshops to ensure the futures of students within our communities.

Some Program Highlights

Established Endowment Trust at Historically Black Colleges & Universities. Presented six $10,000 scholarships to Bennett College, Bethune-Cookman College, Edward Waters College, Florida A & M University, Florida Memorial University and Spelman College. Southern Area recently raised $300,000 to support endowment.

Financial Literacy.  The What’s Up With Money Program sponsored by the Greater New York (NY) Chapter targeted children and youth (10-18) in a family oriented event. In collaboration with other community organizations, schools and financial institutions, the conference was held at Fordham University. What’s Up With Money sessions were presented to children, youth and adults in separate groups by specially selected presenters. Six topics, intended to explore basic principles in financial matters, included stock analysis, entrepreneurship and fundraising.   The program will be repeated next year with a $25,000 grant from JPMorgan Chase.

PETALS (Parents Enriching, Teaching, Achieving Life-long Learning Success). Piedmont (NC) Chapter Links partnered with the local school system to sponsor the state recommended parent-training program PETALS which is a year-long parent training program. The program fostered the increased academic success necessary to close achievement gaps between parents and students in the schools. Chapter members facilitated and/or served as trainers for the informational seminars and interactive workshops which helped parents understand current educational trends and policies.

Project Lead:  High Expectations is a program designed to increase levels of awareness regarding drug and alcohol abuse as well as promote self-concept development. Chapters partnered with other community groups to disseminate these programs.  Program was funded by a grant received from the National Institute of Drug Abuse.  Workshops were conducted to train youth on drug and alcohol abuse prevention.

The Arts

The Arts Facet has come a long way, since its introduction in 1964.  Throughout the nation, Links chapters have partnered with their local museums, symphonies, arts councils, educational institutions and corporations in order to support art programs, especially, where it focused on the presentation of artists of color such as, pianist Awadagin Pratt and the Boys Choir of Harlem.

The Center for Black Literature, at Medgar Evers College, honored The Links, Incorporated and New York Times best-selling author Walter Mosley, for outstanding contributions to the arts at the New-York Historical Society on November 20, 2006.  It speaks beautifully, to our legacy in The Arts, which we have already built and will continue to build upon.

As an organization, The Links, Incorporated has honored many African American artists over the years.  Distinguished honorees have included Elizabeth Catlett, Jacob Lawrence, Brock Peters, Wes Uhlman, James Washington, Jr., Roger Dicksenson, Rodney Ward Silas, Vennette Carrol, Leontyne Price, Cicely Tyson, Alice Walker, Gwendolyn Brooks, Katherine Dunham, Walter Turnbull, Alvia Wardlow, John Biggers, David Driskell, Daphne and Tim Reid and most recently, Shirley Verrett.

The current Arts programming, can be encapsulated in three words:  simplified, unified and focused.  The three programs are as follows:  The Arts On The Move: Link Sisters in Cinema, Poster Art Contest – Project Walking Fete: Make Health a Habit! and Signature Arts Program: Classics Through the Ages.