Programs & Facets

Facets Chairpersons

The Arts – Marie Golson

Health & Human Services – Carmen Sandridge

International Trends & Services – Diane Duggin

National Trends & Services – Jacqueline Cody Downing

Services to Youth – Shunda Irons-Brown

Click on the sections below to learn more about our programs and facets.

  • Read, Write & Illustrate Project – Mt. Zion All Age Primary School, Jamaica Now in its tenth year, The Read, Write and Illustrate Contest is an adaptation of a national contest sponsored by the Links many years ago for American children.  It requires all students in Grades one through six to read a book, write a one-page book report and then produce a poster illustrating a scene from the book. This program is now in the mandatory curriculum for all grades. Click here to learn more about Mt. Zion.
  • Get Smart, Get Healthy – Make Health a Habit– Art Poster Contest at Norristown Area High School and Copper Beech Elementary School. Click here to download the National Poster Competition Guidelines
  • Young Master Writers Master Program – Supplemental after school writing program for Norristown Area High School
  • Book Signing – for best selling historical fiction author Lalita Tademy, and Heather Butts, JD, MPH, MA.
  • Carson Valley Children’s Aid
  • Walk for a Healthy Living Program – Pedometer check for membership initiative.
  • Monthly newsletter concerning health information.
  • Know Thyself Program Health Symposium – Two day program of cardio exercise, relaxation movement, presentations, mentally stimulating games and panel discussions on health related topics.

 

The National Trends and Services Facet continues of our 40-year relationship with the residents of the Montgomery County Geriatric Center (Park House).  We offer support at their annual Christmas Bazaar and have led programs celebrating Black History Month and Women’s History Month to entertain the residents.

We will also continue our hands-on support of community groups by monthly packing for the food pantry at the PALM (Positive Aging in Lower Merion) Center in Ardmore.

In support of the Links national programs, this facet will continue to present the Ally Bank Wallet Wise financial literacy program with sessions on Credit, Budgets and Banking and Investing to groups in our community.  To support the HBCU Initiative, this facet will coordinate our chapter’s participation in mentoring programs including “Sister to Sister” with students at Cheyney University of PA.  We have collaborated with other community groups – most notably by securing the presence of the Colgate Dental van at an event in Norristown sponsored by the Valley Forge Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Jamaica Project – a multi-faceted project to benefit the students in the hillside community around Mt. Zion All Age School, St James, Jamaica: including (but not limited to) educational programming; school supplies; funding for tutoring, food program, literacy teacher, computers, books, and basic uniforms; infrastructure.

Click here to learn more about the Mt. Zion All Age School and our successful partnership.

The Links, Incorporated created its first program facet, , to equip black youth to use their intellect and spirit of achievement to become successful and productive citizens. Today, The Links, Incorporated continues to implement aligned, integrated and transformational programs that are responsive to the academic, health, cultural, social awareness, career development, and mentoring needs of youth.
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. This facet continues to implement three national initiatives, two signature programs and two national programs in support of our mission to enrich and enhance the lives of black youth.
The primary goals of this facet are to:
  • Close the achievement gap from pre-K through college, with the intent of preparing our youth for the global workforce as healthy citizens
  • Promote the integration of a health and wellness component focused on youth, families and communities in our Services to Youth programs
  •  Develop training modules for local pre-K through college mentoring programs, to ascertain a high level of support for youth in our communities
  •  Expand and support science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education and promote the integration of the arts (STEM to STEAM)
  •  Promote and support historically black colleges and universities for ensured sustainability
On a local level, The Montgomery County Chapter of the Links, Inc. Services to Youth Facet has been working to provide service in the following areas: The Carson Valley Children’s Aid in Montgomery County
  • Career clothing drive for male residents
  • Adopt a group home of young ladies grades 9 through 12 and offer services including: mentoring, tutoring, gifting. Workshops have been delivered covering topics from health & well-being to life skills and social media.
Chester County’s Food Cupboard
  • Summer feeding program for youth
  • Financial Donation
Shoes for adopted school in Jamaica
); ga('send', 'pageview');