Leadership Links Inc

LEADERSHIP LINKS INC BEGAN THE 2023 CALENDAR YEAR BY CLOSING OUT LEADERSHIP TERM 7 AND PREPARING FOR LEADERSHIP TERM 8. THE FIRST OFFICIAL LEADERSHIP COMMITMENT IS THE ANNUAL MEETING AND SPIRITUAL RETREAT WHICH WAS HELD AT ST. FRANCIS SPRINGS PRAYER CENTER LOCATED IN STONEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA BETWEEN FEBRUARY 17-20, 2023. THIS ANNUAL MEETING PROVIDED LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, TRAINING, AND ORGANIZATIONAL PLANNING FOR 15 TEAM MEMBERS TO INCLUDE: 4 BOARD DIRECTORS, 1 CONTRACTOR, 6 BOARD ADVISORS, 1 VOLUNTEER, 2 YOUTH LEADERS (PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS), AND 1 YOUNG WOMAN LEADER (PROGRAM PARTICIPANT). THE NONPROFIT SUCCESSFULLY TRAINED TWO NEW MENTORS RESULTING IN THE ADDTION OF ONE NEW MENTOR FOR THE MENTORING PROGRAM FOR GIRLS. THE NONPROFIT COMPLETED ITS SIXTH SEASON OF THE LEADERSHIP LINKS MENTORING PROGRAM FOR GIRLS WITH 15 MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES FROM FOUR DIFFERENT STATES (NC, VA, TX, MD). THE PROGRAM'S CLOSING CEREMONY ENDED WITH A CELEBRATION LUNCHEON IN HONOR OF OUR THREE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES, WHO WERE ALL BOUND TO ATTEND 4-YEAR UNIVERSITIES (SPELMAN UNIVERSITY IN GA, THE UNIVERSITY OF NC IN CHAPEL HILL, AND NC CENTRAL UNIVERSITY). WE LAUNCHED SEASON 7 OF THE 9-MONTH HYBRID PROGRAM WITH 20 APPLICANTS FROM FIVE STATES (NC, VA, TX, MD, NJ). WE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE FIRST SEASON OF THE LEADERSHIP LINKS MENTORING PROGRAM FOR YOUNG WOMEN WITH A COHORT OF FIVE GRADUATES. IN ADDITON TO THE COMPLETION OF THE PROGRAM'S CURRICULUM, THE NINE-MONTH PROGRAM REQUIRES MONTHLY MEETINGS WITH PROGRAM MENTORS, PEER-TO-PEER MENTORING SESSIONS, FEATURES TRAINING FROM FIELD EXPERTS, AND INDIVIDUAL SESSIONS WITH CAREER MENTORS/COACHES. WE LAUNCHED SEASON TWO WITH AN ORIENTATION AND RETREAT (JUNE 22-25, 2023) IN CHICAGO, IL WITH 7 PARTICIPANTS. AS PART OF THEIR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING, LEADERSHIP LINKS ALSO PARTNERED WITH THE WITNESS, INC. AND SPONSORED THE "JOY AND JUSTICE" CONFERENCE DURING THIS TIME. ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS IN BOTH MENTORING PROGRAMS WERE ABLE TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE TOUR (LET), LOCATION: PHILADELPHIA, PA. THROUGHOUT THE LET, PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS WERE ABLE TO MEET WITH ADMISSIONS REPRESENTATIVES, STUDENTS, AND FACULTY; GET CAMPUS TOURS; AND/OR ATTEND CLASS AT TEMPLE UNIVERSITY, THE UNIVERSITY OF PHILADELPHIA (UPENN), AND LINCOLN UNIVERSITY. THE NONPROFIT PARTNERED WITH THE INTERCULTURAL CENTER AT UPENN TO HOST A WOMEN OF COLOR (WOC) MENTORING DINNER. AS PART OF THE EDUCATIONAL LEARNING EXPERIENCE, PARTICIPANTS VISITED THE BLACK-OWNED BUSINESS, UNCLE BOBBIE'S COFFEE & BOOKS; THE AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM IN PHILADELPHIA; AND OTHER CULTURAL ARTS, EATING, AND LEARNING SPOTS IN THE CITY. THE 17 PARTICIPANTS WHO ATTENDED THE LET INCLUDED 4 MENTORS, 9 YOUTH MENTEES, AND 4 YOUNG WOMEN MENTEES. SIX YOUTH LEADERS WERE SELECTED TO SERVE ON THE YOUTH LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE (YLC) AFTER COMPLETING AN APPLICATION PROCESS, PRESENTING THEIR CANDIDATE CAMPAIGNS, BEING VOTED BY THEIR PEERS, AND INTERVIEWING WITH AND THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. NEW INITIATIVES: AS PART OF THE "SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT" ASPECT OF OUR MISSION, PARTICIPANTS FROM THE GIRL'S PROGRAM ATTENDED THE "GLORY" CONFERENCE IN GREENSBORO, NC FEATURING AUTHOR, JACKIE HILL PERRY. THE NONPROFIT ALSO PARTNERED WITH KING'S PARK INTERNATIONAL CHURCH IN DURHAM, NC IN SUPPORT OF THEIR WOMEN'S CONFERENCE. YOUNG WOMEN FROM THE MENTORING PROGRAM PARTICIPATED IN THE WOMEN'S CONFERNCE AND WERE ABLE TO GROW IN THEIR SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT AND PRACTICE THEIR NETWORKING SKILLS. ONE OF THE YOUNG WOMEN FROM THE PROGRAM IS AN ENTREPRENEUR, AND WITH THE NONPROFIT'S COACHING, SHE SOLD OUT OF HER PRODUCT AS A CONFERENCE VENDOR. THE NONPROFIT SUPPORTED THE YOUTH MENTORING COLLABORATIVE (YMC) ORGANIZATION BY PARTICIPATING IN THE FIRST ANNUAL YOUTH MENTORING LEGISLATIVE DAY IN DURHAM, NC. OUR MENTORING PROGRAM DIRECTOR PARTICIPATED IN THE YMC'S FIRST COHORT FOR HEALING-CENTERED MENTORING, WHICH PREPARED MENTORING PROGRAM LEADERS TO OFFER SKILLS AND TECHNIQUES TO YOUTH WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL HEALTH. LEADERSHIP LINKS ALSO PARTICIPATED IN AND PROVIDED NETWORKING TRAINING TO YOUTH AT THE YMC'S "2023 CAROLINAS YOUTH MENTORING SYMPOSIUM." LEADERSHIP LINKS CONTINUED TO OFFER VIRTUAL EVENTS AS PUBLIC OFFERINGS TO INCLUDE, THOUGH IS NOT LIMITED TO, MONTHLY NETWORK PRAYER CALLS (12), AND DONOR/CHAMPION UPDATES. DURING THIS LEADERSHIP TERM, WE OFFERED A UNIQUE VIRTUAL EVENT ON GRIEF CARE, HEALING THE SOUL OF A LEADER.