Leadership Links Inc

LEADERSHIP LINKS INC EMERGED FROM THE PANDEMIC YEARS 2020-2021 HOPEFUL. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OUTLINED IN-PERSON PROGRAMS FOR 2022 BEGINNING WITH AN IN-PERSON ANNUAL MEETING FOR THE LEADERSHIP TEAM AT RIDGECREST CONFERENCE CENTER LOCATED IN BLACK MOUNTAIN, NORTH CAROLINA, FEBRUARY 18-21, 2022.ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS WITHIN THE LEADERSHIP LINKS MENTORING PROGRAM FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS WERE OFFERED THE LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE TOUR (LET) TO VISIT CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA. THEOLOGICAL HORIZONS (TH) PARTNERED WITH LEADERSHIP LINKS INC. TO PLAN AND HOST THE LINKS LEADERS DURING THEIR VISIT. THIS AN INDEPENDENT, NOT-FOR-PROFIT CHRISTIAN MINISTRY CENTERED AT THE BONHOEFFER HOUSE AT THE HEART OF THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA. THE TOUR WHICH TOOK PLACE FROM APRIL 21-24, 2022 INCLUDED VISITS TO VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY, THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA, AND MONTICELLO EXPLORING HOW THAT CITY SHAPED AND CONTINUES TO SHAPE US HISTORY. THERE WERE 15 YOUTH LINKS LEADERS AND FOUR FEMALE MENTORS WHO CHAPERONED THE BUS TRIP FROM NORTH CAROLINA TO VIRGINIA. THE CLOSING CEREMONY FOR THE FIFTH SEASON OF THE LEADERSHIP LINKS MENTORING PROGRAM FOR GIRLS WAS HELD MAY 7, 2022 VIA ZOOM VIDEO CONFERENCE. NINE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND 14 HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH LINKS LEADERS EARNED PROGRAM CERTIFICATES AND WERE HONORED DURING THE VIRTUAL PROGRAM ALONG WITH THE SIX YOUTH LEADERS WERE APPOINTED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO SERVE ON THE YOUTH LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE. THE LEADERS WERE ELECTED BY THEIR PEERS AFTER CONDUCTING CANDIDATE PRESENTATIONS FOR THEIR RESPECTIVE POSITIONS OF PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT, TREASURER, SECRETARY, MARKETING OFFICER AND NETWORK RELATIONS OFFICER. FIVE OF THE OFFICERS MET FOR A THREE-DAY LEADERSHIP RETREAT IN MARYLAND TO PLAN THEIR YOUTH LED EVENT, FUNDRAISER, AND SERVICE PROJECT FOR THE YEAR. ON MAY 21, 2022 THE LEADERSHIP LINKS NETWORK HONORED ALL CLASS OF 2022 HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES WHO COMPLETED THREE OR MORE PROGRAMS SINCE MIDDLE SCHOOL. A SENIOR LUNCHEON AND CELEBRATION PROGRAM WAS HELD AT SAMMY G'S TAVERN WITH OVER 20 ATTENDEES HONORING FIVE GRADUATES WHO WERE ACCEPTED TO NORTH CAROLINA A&T, WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY, UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA ASHEVILLE, UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA GREENSBORO, WINSTON SALEM STATE AND FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY.AS PART OF THE MENTORING FOR YOUNG ADULTS GRANTEE COHORT, LEADERSHIP LINKS MENTORING PROGRAM PARTNERED WITH FORUM FOR THEOLOGICAL EXPLORATION TO OFFER A LEADERSHIP LINKS MENTORING PROGRAM FOR YOUNG WOMEN AGES 18-30 WHO HAVE MATRICULATED THROUGH THE MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS WITH LEADERSHIP LINKS INC. THIS MODEL ALLOWS OUR FUTURE LEADERS TO CONTINUE THEIR MENTORING RELATIONSHIP BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL AND INTO THEIR CAREER JOURNEY. THE PROGRAM LAUNCHED IN THE SUMMER WITH A FIVE-DAY RETREAT IN MARYLAND. FIVE OF SEVEN ENROLLED APPLICANTS ATTENDED THE RETREAT. ENROLLED PARTICIPANTS ARE FROM NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN AND NORTH CAROLINA, THE NINE-MONTH PROGRAM REQUIRES MONTHLY MEETINGS WITH THEIR LEADERSHIP LINKS MENTORS, MONTHLY PEER MENTORING SESSIONS AND A REVIEW OF LEADERSHIP RESOURCES MENTOR FOR LIFE, SUCCESS FROM THE INSIDE OUT, AND THE GOSPEL OF WORK. IN SEPTEMBER 2022, LEADERSHIP LINKS INC RETURNED TO IN-PERSON MONTHLY SESSIONS FOR 11 HIGH SCHOOL PARTICIPANTS IN THE LEADERSHIP LINKS MENTORING PROGRAM FOR GIRLS. THE MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM OPENED WITH 15 GIRLS ENROLLED IN A VIRTUAL PROGRAM DUE TO THE UNAVABILITY OF MENTORS IN NORTH CAROLINA TO HOST A IN-PERSON PROGRAM. LEADERSHIP LINKS INC CONTINUED TO OFFER SEVERAL VIRTUAL EVENTS AS PUBLIC OFFERINGS TO INCLUDE: MONTHLY PHONE CONFERENCE NETWORK PRAYER CALLS (12), AND QUARTERLY ZOOM CALLS FOR NETWORK DONORS AND SPONSORS (4).FOR END-OF-YEAR GIVING, THE YOUTH LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE LED THE YOUTH DELEGATION IN A DOUBLE GOOD VIRTUAL FUNDRAISER SELLING GOURMET POPCORN. THE YOUTH LINKS LEADERS ACHIEVED $7,382 IN SALES. THE FUNDRAISER RESULTED IN $3,691 DONATED TO THE ORGANIZATION FOR 50% OF THEIR TOTAL SALES.