Programs
Dive into a spectrum of initiatives that embody our commitment to service, culture, and community. From education to empowerment, each program reflects our mission to make transformative impacts. Explore, engage, and be inspired by the difference we're making together, intentionally.
Intentional Focus
Services to Youth Facet
Links Connected To Prepare Our Youth For Success
Services to Youth programs are designed to empower black youth to use their intellect and spirit of achievement to become successful and productive citizens.
Area Intentional Focus
I READ, YOU READ, WE READ TOGETHER​
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In the wake of COVID-19, the urgency to accelerate literacy development for children of color has never been more critical. According to the New York Times, nearly two-thirds of American students are not reading at grade level—and those from historically marginalized communities have been disproportionately impacted. Pandemic-era disruptions deepened pre-existing disparities, leaving many children—especially those from low-income families—up to half a year behind in reading instruction.
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Our Focus
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The Southern Area is answering this crisis with a targeted, compassionate response:
We are intensifying our efforts to close the reading achievement gap by focusing on elementary-aged children, specifically third through fifth graders whose foundational learning years were most affected.
Chapters are encouraged to continue their valuable work across all grade levels, but this strategic shift underscores the critical window for reading intervention in upper elementary grades—where literacy skills transition from “learning to read” to “reading to learn.”
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Strategic Alignment with National Initiatives
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This area-wide focus is aligned with the LINKED UP National Mentoring Initiative, reinforcing the power of mentorship in driving academic and personal success. Through culturally responsive reading programs, one-on-one literacy support, and community-based initiatives, our members will walk alongside students as trusted literacy champions.
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Links Love HBCUs – “Get in the Game”
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This exciting initiative energizes our commitment to HBCU awareness and access. “Get in the Game” encourages members to be intentional and strategic about their support of Historically Black and minority-serving institutions and motivates young people to see themselves as future scholars by exploring HBCU culture through:
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college fairs, tours, and alumni panels
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application and scholarship guidance
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engagement with HBCU student life
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philanthropic support
We help students not just dream about college—but prepare for it.
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STEM Ready
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Building on our mission to diversify the STEM pipeline, STEM Ready prepares youth for success in science, technology, engineering, and math. The program nurtures curiosity, critical thinking, and innovation through:
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hands-on experiments and design challenges
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partnerships with HBCU STEM programs
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guest speakers and career exploration
NSBE Jr. Partnerships
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Through partnerships with the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE Jr.), our chapters extend the impact of STEM education even further—connecting youth to national networks of support, competition, and mentorship. Students become part of a legacy of Black excellence in engineering and tech.
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The Southern Area’s Intentional Focus reflects our deep investment in the academic restoration and future-readiness of Black youth. Whether through literacy, STEM access, or college preparation, we are building systems of support that empower the next generation to rise—and read—together.
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The Arts Facet
Links Connected To Advance Our Artistic Heritage
The Links, Incorporated creates and supports art-related educational opportunities for minority youth as well as presents and supports performances by youth and accomplished professional artists in an array of disciplines.
Area Intentional Focus
OVERTURE: A LOOK INSIDE OPERA
Focus:
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Showcase and celebrate Black excellence in opera to encourage Black representation both onstage and behind the scenes
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Create opportunities for talented student artists to explore and develop in the world of opera.
ALIGNED WITH THE NATIONAL SIGNATURE PROGRAM CLASSICS THROUGH THE AGES
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LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION: OUR STORIES, OUR LENS
Focus:
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Uplift Black storytelling and our rich cultural history by supporting Black filmmakers
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Showcase and celebrate Black excellence in cinema to encourage Black representation both on screen and behind the scenes
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Use film to spark dialogue on issues impacting Black communities
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ALIGNED WITH THE NATIONAL PILOT PROGRAM TRANSFORMING COMMUNITIES THROUGH VISUAL ARTS​
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GRANDMA’S HANDS - STORYTELLING THROUGH QUILTING (Collaborative Projects)
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Focus:
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QUILTING BY THE NUMBERS - A STEMREADY APPROACH (in collaboration with Services to Youth)
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Integrate hands-on visual arts activities with STEM.
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Bridge STEM to STEAM by incorporating multigenerational quilting activities to help realize STEAM goals.
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Help develop computational, analytical, and creative thinking skills.
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QUILTS FOR KEEPS: COMFORTING THOSE WITH CANCER (in collaboration with Health and Human Services, Mental Health, International Trends and Services and Membership)
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Create lap-sized quilts for adults and children fighting cancer-related illnesses
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Donate lap quilts in conjunction with local and Southern Area programming
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Offer symbols of comfort and hope, while providing warmth during chemo and treatments
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More Intentional Work
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​National Poster Arts Competition
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Young Master Writers and Artists Competition
National Trends and Services Facet
Links Connected To Advocate For Our Communities
Through National Trends and Services, our chapters are empowered to raise their voices and transform communities by reducing barriers to resources through advocacy, education, and service.
Area Intentional Focus
SOUTHERN AREA VOTER ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM (SAVE)
Background
Blacks are underrepresented, by both registration and activation, in the voting process
at the federal, state, and local levels. Additionally, voter apathy in the younger age
group has increased over the past two Presidential Elections. According to Pew
Research Data, more young adults, ages 18-30, did not vote in 2024 (30%) than in
2020 (25%).
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Southern Area Focus:​​
​To engage in social action by registering, educating, and mobilizing voters in the Southern Area, with a specific focus on students, high schoolers to HBCU/college students, as individuals that are new to the electorate.
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ALIGNED WITH THE NATIONAL SOCIAL ACTION INITIATIVE'S : LINK UP THE VOTE
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EmpowHER: A Southern Link to Financial Wellness Initiative
Background:
According to CARE.org, women are 35% more likely to live in poverty. And the COVID-19 pandemic disproportionally impacted women through layoffs, terminations, food insecurity, and financial hardship.
Southern Area Focus:​
​To impact the financial stability of families by providing workforce development resources, including financial literacy programming, to groups of women. Chapters with a Dressing HER From the Inside Out Program will empowHER program participants by providing financial literacy; other pertinent training to overcome
obstacles to financial success.
ALIGNED WITH THE NATIONAL INITIATIVE: Dressing HER From the Inside Out
See Them, See Us! Human Trafficking in Plain Sight
Background:
Human trafficking is defined as the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person either for the purpose of a commercial sex act (sex trafficking) or labor of services (forced labor). It is a crime involving the use of force, fraud, or coercion to compel an individual to work or engage in a commercial sex act. There is no single common profile of a human trafficker or human trafficking victim.
Southern Area Focus:
To bring awareness and information on the issue of human trafficking to the local community, with a focus on the youth to young adult population, to include an educational impact on HBCU campuses. Programming will also include advocacy efforts to enhance awareness of the issue that has no common profile of victims and occurs in plain sight.
ALIGNED WITH THE NATIONAL SOCIAL ACTION INITIATIVE'S: HUMAN TRAFFICKING​​
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THE EMERALD PLATE
Background: ​
Food insecurity is a symptom of a deeper social justice issue that is rooted in poverty caused by systemic barriers to accessing healthy, nutritious food. Food sovereignty is the right of people to healthy, culturally appropriate food produced through sustainable methods – and the right to define their own food and agriculture systems. It shifts the focus from corporate-driven food chains to people-centered systems that prioritize environmental, social, and economic sustainability.
Southern Area Focus:​
In alignment with the national vision of NTS—to eliminate disparities by reducing barriers to services through advocacy, education, and service—the Southern Area is committed to raising awareness about food insecurity and its disproportionate impact on vulnerable populations. Through targeted education and outreach efforts, we will engage our communities to address the systemic barriers faced by BIPOC communities, HBCU students, low-income individuals, the unhoused, veterans, and other marginalized groups. Our goal is to empower communities with knowledge, advocate for equitable access to resources, and collaborate with partners to create sustainable solutions that ensure food security for all.
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Southern Charm: Stories, Support, and Strength for Caregivers
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Background:
A recent joint report by AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC) finds a 45% increase in Americans providing care and cites rising stress, health risks, and financial strain.
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Southern Area Focus:
The Southern Area will host a series of Lunch & Learn sessions to educate members to provide resources to the communities they serve on the issues pertaining to navigating the complexities of caregiving.
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ALIGNED WITH THE AARP: ARE YOU READY? INITIATIVE
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International Trends and Services Facet
Links Connected For Global Impact
The International Trends and Services Facet is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for people of African descent worldwide.
Area Intentional Focus
Watford Hill Primary School in Jamaica
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Focus:
We look forward to launching a 2025-2027 campaign for Watford Hill. Plans will include detailed research of all associated costs as well as conferring with St. Mary School representatives who completed a similar improvement campaign.
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ALIGNED WITH THE NATIONAL EDUCATION ACROSS THE MILES SIGNATURE PROGRAM AND LINKSHELP FOR HUMANITY​
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More Intentional Work
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L.I.F.E. Signature Program
Health and Human Services Facet
Links Connected to Promote Black Family Wellness
The Health and Human Services Facet provides programming opportunities that respond to the chronic health disparities that persist in black communities and result in the decreased life expectancy of African Americans and other people of African ancestry.
​​Area Intentional Focus​
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Links in Pink 2.0: Fight Like a Link - a dedicated program aimed at providing crucial access to breast cancer screenings, including mammograms, and raising awareness about cancer prevention. In collaboration with Pink for Africa, the initiative will focus on both local and international communities, with a special focus on Ghana, where the need for cancer education and resources is significant.
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“Quilts for Keeps” will provide a meaningful way for The Links, Incorporated to engage with both local and international communities. The initiative creates a sense of unity and compassion while offering a tangible source of comfort and support to cancer patients. This program not only addresses the physical needs of patients but also the emotional and psychological needs, proving that small acts of kindness, like gifting a quilt, can have a lasting impact on those in need. ​
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MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVE​
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Area Intentional Focus
Signature Mental Health Initiative:
Links P.O.W.E.R.
Focus:
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Incorporate mental wellness into all aspects of chapter programming
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Collaboration with each facet and other chapter committees
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Links sisters, Chapters, and Communities
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Multigenerational approach
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ALIGNED WITH THE NATIONAL MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVE
