Links Inc

TO PROMOTE AND ENGAGE IN EDUCATIONAL, CIVIC, INTER-CULTURAL ACTIVITIES IN ORDER TO ENRICH THE LIVES OF OUR MEMBERS AND THE ARLINGTON AND ALEXANDRIA COMMUNITIES AND TO WORK TOGETHER TOWARD ACHIEVING COMMON GOALS. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES INVOLVE ENGAGING STUDENTS AT ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL COMMUNITIES FOR CHANGE AND PROVIDING HUMANITARIAN SERVICES.

NATIONAL TRENDS AND SERVICES/COMMUNITY OUTREACH 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 ELECTIVELY EMPOWER THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH WE WORK. WE AIM TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SUSTAINABLE AND MEASURABLE PROGRAMS AND STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS, INCREASE COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS, AND EXTEND OUR EXISTING INITIATIVES TO INCLUDE COMMUNITIES IDENTIFIED AS HAVING THE GREATEST NEED. CURRENTLY, NATIONAL TRENDS AND SERVICES ENCOMPASSES VARIOUS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS AND COMMITTEES WITH NATIONAL PARTNERS AND SPONSORS, EACH COMMITTED TO THE OVERALL VISION AND MISSION OF THE FACET. THESE PROGRAMS SERVE AS A CATALYST FOR CHANGE PROMOTING INDIVIDUAL AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT. OUR KEY PROGRAMS INCLUDE 4-YEAR SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS, GET-OUT-THE-VOTE ACTIVITIES, READY SET VOTE, AND CIVIC/POLICE ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES.

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES: THE LINKS, INCORPORATED ESTABLISHED THIS FACET IN RESPONSE TO THE CHRONIC HEALTH DISPARITIES THAT PERSIST IN BLACK COMMUNITIES AND WHICH RESULT IN A DECREASED LIFE EXPECTANCY OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES PROGRAMS BRING GREATER FOCUS, RESOURCES AND COORDINATION TO HEALTH INITIATIVES ALREADY IN EXISTENCE. OUR SIGNATURE RED DRESS HEALTH LINKS TO HEART HEALTH PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LINKS, INCORPORATED, FEDERAL AGENCIES, LOCAL HOSPITALS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF THE NUMBER ONE KILLER OF WOMEN, HEART DISEASE. WITH ONGOING FORUMS, PANELS, WORKSHOPS AND HEALTH FAIRS, WE PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL AWARENESS AND PREVENTION PROGRAMS TO HIGH RISK MINORITY WOMEN. OUR CHAPTER ALSO ENGAGES OUR COMMUNITY WITH WALK FOR HEALTH LIVING, A WALKING CAMPAIGN TO IMPROVE HEART HEALTH. IN ADDITION TO OUR HEART HEALTH PROGRAMS, WE PLAN TO INCREASE CANCER PREVENTION AND AWARENESS THROUGH OUR HEALTH EQUITY AMBASSADOR LINKS PROGRAM.

INTERNATIONAL TRENDS AND SERVICES: THE INTERNATIONAL TRENDS AND SERVICES FACET'S PRIMARY FOCUS 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. THE FOREMOST GOAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL TRENDS AND SERVICES FACET IS TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR TANGIBLE SERVICE IN OTHER COUNTRIES. OUR "BOOTS ON THE GROUND" APPROACH PROVIDES FOR MORE PERSONALIZED METHODS FOR ASSISTING AND IMPROVING THE LIVES OF WOMEN, CHILDREN AND MEN WORLDWIDE THROUGH LONG-TERM PROGRAMS COMMITTED TO EMPOWERMENT AND PUBLIC POLICY LEADERSHIP IN ADVOCATING FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE. THIS EFFORT MANIFESTS IN OUR STUFF THE BARRELS AND HOLIDAY DANGLER PROGRAMS TO MEET CRITICAL NEEDS OF OUR HAITIAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS. OUR HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS IMPLEMENT THE LINKS, INCORPORATED'S HELP TO HUMANITY PROGRAM.