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From the inception of The Links, Incorporated, our organization has
addressed its community service through educational, civic and intercultural
programs. The program facets are Services to Youth, National Trends and
Services, International Trends and Services and The Arts. Our organization
depends upon the expertise and commitment of our members to fulfill this
mission.
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The objective of this facet is to aid minority
youth to find and fulfill their intellectual potential.
High Expectations, our mentoring program for girls at Washington,
DC public and charter schools, was inaugurated in 1988 and
is one of our signature programs. It has won Best Practices Awards within
the national organization and served as both a model and an inspiration to
other chapters contemplating
mentoring programs for girls. Our 26 young ladies participate in activities
designed to enhance their confidence, leadership skills, and critical
thinking and decision making abilities in both academic and social
situations. High Expectation girls also create and execute a community
service project during the year.
Activities for High Expectation girls encourage family ties and community
commitment. Parents are welcome to attend workshops and particular ones such
as How to Trace Your Family Tree ask the girls to bring their oldest living
family member. Mothers have been their guests at mother-daughter teas, and
on Valentine’s Day they created and delivered gifts to a DC shelter for
homeless women. Workshop topics include Self Defense, Sexual and Health
Awareness, Financial Acuity and Money Management. Field trips to museums,
art galleries, and historic points of interest, and theater and dance
performances broaden their exposure and appreciation of history and culture.
Overnight retreats and out of town trips, most recently to New York City and
Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, are an integral part of the program.
Another program serving youth is the Potomac Links' reading program for third graders. Inaugurated in 1999 the program’s purpose is to help develop critical reading skills in the areas of phonemic awareness, comprehension and fluency. Our goal is for each child to have
her or his own books to read at home, as well as to help develop the school library. Volunteer Links read to third graders on a weekly basis and have donated hundreds of books for home and school based libraries.
Both programs are funded through the fund-raising efforts of the Potomac Chapter and are made possible through the cooperation and support of Washington, D.C.
public and charter schools.
Another program is Imagination Stage - "The Reading Initiative Drama
Workshop" which offers a multi-sensory and holistic approach that allows the
"whole" child a chance of experiencing the performing arts. The
Imagination Stage program aims to spotlight the child's talents as well as
to expose him/her to other methods of learning, all while creating a fun and
stimulating environment which fosters and eagerness to learn.
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The objective of this facet is to implement
programs that meet the needs of the people in our communities. National issues that the Potomac
Chapter has focused on include educational access, voter registration, Health and Aging Well, consumer education, the Black family, poverty, and women transitioning from welfare to work. Our day long educational forum
Women Transitioning From Welfare to Work won regional
recognition for its detail, preparation, creativity and focused comprehensiveness. The forum, for more than 80 women leaving welfare and entering the world of paid employment, was attended by the District of Columbia Director of Human Resources and other experts in housing, employment, health and education.
The Potomac Chapter has worked with other
organizations and agencies to create a "multiplier" effect, bringing
collective resources and a greater synergy to those areas to be addressed.
We tap into the resources of corporate partners to help sponsor related
events. The result is an effective way of pooling resources to work
toward resolving critical societal issues. In addition to the Potomac
Chapter’s individual programs, the chapter has worked in cooperation with
other organizations that supply clothes and/or shelter to women and children
in need.
This year the National Trends and Services committee has established an on-going supportive relationship with The Green Door, a Washington, DC based non-profit that provides shelter and counseling services for mentally disabled people. In addition to our regular contribution of goods at our monthly meetings, the committee designated The Green Door as the recipient of food card gifts from our guests at our annual holiday cruise.
We worked to increase awareness about the dangers of heart disease in the black community by holding an information session with nutritionist Dr. Gwendolyn Plau of Howard University who spoke to chapter members about cooking, eating and living for a healthy heart.
This spring, the committee will lead the chapter in an effort to address child hunger by supporting a local program that provides food for subsidized lunch recipients during the summer months when school is out of session.
2009 Inductee Service Project - on two separate Saturdays, we dedicated our mornings to the National Trends and
Service committee’s signature service project at the Capital Area Food Bank in
Washington, DC. The Capital
Area Food Bank is the largest, public nonprofit hunger and nutrition education
resource in the area. We also learned that for every dollar donated to the Capital Area Food Bank,
they are able to provide three meals to hungry people.
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The objective of this facet is to give more
attention to international human rights and educational advancement for peoples of developing countries.
The Potomac Chapter renders services and assistance to global friends,
especially those living in African and Caribbean countries. We have an
awareness of international events, affairs and issues through personal
involvement and commitment. The Potomac Chapter has contributed financially to the building of water wells in Africa, UNICEF’s School in A Box Program, and the Safe Motherhood Initiative to help alleviate the problem of neonatal mortality through our purchase of Maama Kits.
In addition to these programs, the Potomac Chapter developed a free informational forum after September 11th on Middle East Issues and the impact, if any on African-Americans. The forum
An Approach to Intercultural Understanding was televised by WHUT-TV.
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This year we are proud to be a part of
Studio Africa - a joint project of the Potomac Chapter of the Links, Inc., the Smithsonian
National Museum of African Art and the District of Columbia Public Schools. Studio Africa
will create a comprehensive learning environment for young people by
exploring the art and cultures of Africa.
The schools involved are Tyler Elementary
School and Community Academy Public Charter
School.
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The Studio Africa programs include:
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Introduction to Africa |
Kente
Cloth Paper Weaving Workshop |
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Children’s African Short Film Series |
Holiday
Craft Making |
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ANNASEGROMMA of Ghana |
Coyaba Dance Theater |
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Storytelling / Dance |
South
African Embassy Day |
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Creative Writing/Journal Project |
The
Mural Project |
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The
Student Art Contest |
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The objective of this facet is to encourage
appreciation of and support for cultural enrichment and the arts.
We are at the forefront of organizational advocacy for the preservation of
African American cultural heritage. A part of our mission is to help empower artists to become an integral part of the global art community and to sponsor programs for youth.
The Potomac Chapter sponsors quality programs
for display of talent by budding as well as established artists. We use our
influence with public and private art institutions to insure inclusion of
African American artists.
In addition to our many art excursions, the Potomac Chapter sponsored the development and application of an after-school Arts Program for the children of formerly homeless families. Although the children were in stable, long-term transitional housing, they were without any safe after school activities. The Potomac Chapter’s sponsorship of a skill and value based arts curriculum resulted in the development of an exciting and successful arts program for 26 families in transitional housing. The program was funded by The Links Foundation,
Incorporated.
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We have partnered with the Humanities
Council of Washington, DC for The Big Read - a nationwide literacy
project featuring the book The Great Gatsby. We presented a
program on African Americans in the Jazz Age for the youth and family
members of Hope House. Our program focused on the Harlem
Renaissance and provided books and other gifts for the Hope House Kids.
The children in attendance all have fathers who are among the 7,000 District
residents who are in prisons from here to the west coast. Hope House
helps these families to stay connected by strengthening relationships and
reducing recidivism.
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PHONE CARDS FOR THE MILITARY
AT WALTER REED
The goal of this project is to enroll youth in thanking the men and women of our military who are recovering at Walter Reed. We want to show our gratitude with cards enhanced by youth generated original art and verses of gratitude. Additionally, we will include a phone card so that these men and women will be able to speak with their loved ones on Valentine’s Day.
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