2023 DC LINKS chapter links Program

History

The Washington (DC) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated was chartered in April 1948, and is the oldest chapter in the District of Columbia/Maryland/Virginia (DMV) area. It enjoys a rich legacy of friendship, community service and unwavering commitment to the goals, ideals and purposes of The Links, Incorporated. We have 85 active and distinguished professional women who work together in friendship to make a measurable difference in our communities and to enrich the lives of those we serve.

Our core values are friendship, integrity, honesty, service, commitment, family relationships, courage, respect for self and others, legacy, confidentiality, responsibility,

OFFICERS

President

Anita Cooke Wells, Esq.

Vice President

Cheryl Teare, Esq.

Recording Secretary

Laurie Dubriel, Esq.

Corresponding Secretary

Johanna R. Thomas, Esq.

Treasurer

Gloria Smith

Assistant Treasurer

Rachel Williams

Financial Secretary

Kendra Calloway

Immediate Past President

Pamela Flowers Banks, Esq.

Parliamentarian

Donna MP Wilson, Esq.

Archivist

Denise Bailey Clark

MEMBERS

Kim Greenfield Alfonso

S Kathryn Allen

Sydney Marie Avent

Brenda Baldwin-Marshall

Pamela Flowers Banks**

Ivy Barnett

Paula Kent Boone

Erika Martin Bolden

Barbara Brown Brewington

Tamera Brown Alvarado**

Patricia R Bush

LaTanya Renee Butler

Kendra Calloway

Dorothy Capers

Faizah Carr

Yvonne Wright Carter

Kenda Kittrell Chavis

Nicole Cheek

Denise Bailey Clark

Janine Austin Clayton

DeAndra Cullen

Karen Day

Joyce Dennis

Aeva Doomes

Laurie Dubriel

Mynetta Edwards

Leslie T Fenwick, Ph D

Samara Ryder Foxx

Karen M Gibbs

Faith Gibson Hubbard

Emily K. Graham

Tiffini Turner Greene

Karyn Greenfield

Andrea Crittenden Hagans

Gerri Mason Hall

Regina Hampton Coleman

Karen Hardwick

Hazel Harper Johns

Michelle Rector Hawkins

Muriel A Howard

Tracey Tolbert Jones

Allie B Latimer**

Gracie Lawson-Borders

Susan M. Leigh

Monica Freeman Lewis

Peggy A Lewis

Angela Marshall

Agnes Moss

Lisa McCurdy-Hankins

Joan Rector McGlockton

Bishetta D Merritt**

Dana Kristina-Joi Morgan

April U Owens

Vivian W Pinn

Lois Ann Poag-Ray

Gloria Quick-Alexander

Program

Reception & Silent Auction

Luncheon Seating

Welcome & Greetings

Chapter President Anita Cooke Wells, Esq.

Recognition of Sponsors & Special Guests

Invocation Rev. Dr. Lois Ann Poag-Ray

Lunch is Served

National President Ethel Isaacs Williams, JD

Mistress of Ceremonies Lesli Foster (WUSA 9)

75th Anniversary Highlights

Remarks & Recognitions

Dancing & Vendor Shopping

75THANNIVERSARYCELEBRATIONCOMMITTEE

KIM ALFONSO; IVY BARNETT; TRACEY TOLBERT JONES; SYDNEY AVENT; DENISE BAILEY CLARK; AEVA DOOMES; AGNES MOSS; DOROTHY CAPERS; KAREN DAY; KENDA CHAVIS; DESHAUN WISE-PORTER; JOHANNA THOMAS; KENDRA CALLOWAY; FAIZAH CARR; EMILY GRAHAM; FAITH GIBSON HUBBARD; DAWN WHITMORE; DENISE WITCHER SESSOMS; CHERYL TEARE; ANITA COOKE WELLS; AND GLORIA SMITH

In-Kind

Bon Viv Consulting, National Black Movie Association, Ciroc Vodka, Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, Encore AV, Steve and Dorothy Capers, Michael Wood Consulting, Be Rooted Ms. Jetsetter, HoverFly Marketing & Events, Waldorf Astoria Spa, Waldorf Astoria DC Sales and Banquet Team, Anita Cooke Wells and Cheryl Teare, 2012 Member Cohort, Karen Day

Major L. Clark III, Fernando Porter, MD, Edward Chavis

Dr. Denise Brown Allen, Rev. Dr. Barbara WallaceLORD & Wallace Counseling, 2022 Member Cohort

The Washington (DC) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated gratefully acknowledges the generous support of our 75th Anniversary sponsors.

The Washington, DC Chapter of The Links, Incorporated is the third chapter established in the chain of Links’ chapters, now totaling 299 chapters in 41 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of the Bahamas and the United Kingdom

The Links, Incorporated was founded on November 9, 1946, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and has been incorporated since March 29, 1951. The Washington, DC Chapter of The Links, Incorporated was organized by Bernice Thomas and Ruth Young, and was chartered on April 17, 1948, by eight members of the Philadelphia Chapter. A beautiful candlelight ceremony was held at the home of Bernice Thomas, the first Chapter president. Other charter members include Vashti Cook, Katie Harris, Kaye Johnson, Anne Cooke Reid and Eula Trigg. Once established, the Washington, DC Chapter immediately demonstrated its devotion to the Washington, DC community. During Christmas of 1948, the Chapter gave the children at the Industrial Home School Annex a Stromberg-Carlson victrola, Christmas records, a gift certificate for additional records and a cash contribution for fruit, candy, nuts and other goodies. This commitment to young people was continuously displayed through other community programs, including the Chapter’s presentation of two professional Broadway artists to the students at Armstrong High School in 1951

The Washington, DC Chapter, throughout our seventy five-year history, has had many award-winning programs in the focus areas emphasized by the National organization – The Arts, Health and Human Services, International Trends and Services, National Trends and Services and Services to Youth The Chapter’s Family Caregiver Program has served as a model for other chapters The Chapter’s long-standing programs have included Links to Healthy Smiles; Are You Ready? (prepares African American women 50 years and older to address critical issues in their lives); a partnership with N Street Village; the Links International Foreign Affairs and Business Empowerment for Youth (LIFE) Program at Benjamin Banneker Academic High School (introduces high school students to international careers); and a Christmas luncheon for seniors in partnership with the Howard Dental School that has continued for over 40 years Two of these programs, Links to Healthy Smiles and Are You Ready?, were elevated to Eastern Area programming, and subsequently became National initiatives, and a third, the LIFE Program, is a National Signature Program. In 2012, the Chapter launched the effort to have the next $1 million Links’ grant made to the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) by submitting a written recommendation to the 15th National President. In 2013, following ongoing advocacy and education, the Links Foundation awarded the NMAAHC a $1 million grant.

In recent years, the Chapter has established an after-school mentorship program at Howard University Middle School for Math and Science, presenting entrepreneurship and STEM training to young ladies at the School; a partnership with Operation Pathways to conduct health fairs at residential facilities housing low-to-middle income DC residents; and a Get-Out-the-Vote initiative in collaboration with Reclaim Our Vote during the 2020 presidential and 2022 mid-term elections, targeted at minority voters in states, primarily Southern, where voter suppression initiatives have been enacted

The Washington, DC Chapter is especially proud of its Thomas-Young Scholarship Fund, which has provided college scholarships for more than forty years The Scholarship Fund was established in 1982 and named in honor of the organizers of the Washington, DC Chapter, Bernice Thomas and Ruth Young The Scholarship Fund provides college funds and other resources to graduates of Washington, DC public high schools The Chapter’s most recent cohort of five scholars was selected in Spring of 2022 and will each receive $10,000 throughout their four-year college matriculation These students are attending the following schools and majoring in the indicated subjects: George Mason University (Engineering); Delaware State University (Pre-Nursing); The Catholic University of America (Business Administration); North Carolina Central University (Business Administration); and North Carolina A&T (Undeclared) The Thomas-Young Scholarship, since its inception, has had a sustained and profound impact on students in the Washington, DC area

Weinviteyoutoreviewthefollowing pagestofindoutadditionalinformation regardingourprograms.

Thomas-Young Scholarship Fund

The Thomas-Young Scholarship Fund, established in 1982 and as previously noted, was named for chapter organizers Bernice Thomas and Ruth Young, and memorializes all our deceased members. The Fund provides scholarships and other resources to graduates of the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) who demonstrate a significant need. Other factors considered in the award are academic performance and extracurricular activities. These funds help the students as they pursue their undergraduate degrees.

Students are funded for a four-year period, provided they are continuously enrolled in college and have a satisfactory GPA. Every four years, our Scholarship Committee selects between 4-6 students to receive a fouryear scholarship. For the 2022-2026 funding period, there are five recipients, and each receives $2,500 per year. Our program costs $12,500 per year or $50,000 for the four-year period. Since its inception, the chapter has awarded over $400,000 in scholarships to more than 500 students. In addition to monetary awards, the Thomas-Young Scholarship offers mentorship opportunities and annual programing for the students.

Thomas-Young Scholars represent a broad spectrum of academic disciplines, including psychology, economics, finance, accounting, engineering, music, science and technology, communications, biology and various other areas. Thomas-Young Scholars also have completed or are in the process of pursuing advanced degrees.

The eligibility requirements to receive a scholarship are:

DCPS high school senior

Resident of the District of Columbia

US Citizen or Permanent Resident

3.0 Grade Point Average or Above

Substantial Financial Need based on the FAFSA

We look forward to continuing to follow our scholarship recipients, especially our current Scholars, and serving as resources to them as they move forward in their careers!

Services to Youth Facet

Goal: In 1958, The Links, Incorporated created its first program facet, Services to Youth (STY), to equip Black youth to use their intellect and spirit of achievement to become successful and productive citizens. Today, The Links, Incorporated continues to implement aligned, integrated, and transformational programs that are responsive to the academic, health, cultural, social awareness, career development, and mentoring needs of youth.

Past Washington, DC Chapter Programs: Partnership with Cleveland Park Elementary School; Operation Joys for Toys Drive; Library of Congress Book Drive

Current Programming:

HUMS2 Girls Afterschool Program-Youth Empowerment (YEP) 2017-Present, an integrated program with The Arts and the Health and Human Services facets

The chapter developed an enrichment program focused on low-income minority students. The Howard University Middle School for Mathematics and Science (HUMS2) is 100% minority and is a Title 1 school. To increase the program's impact on a specific population, the program started in 2017 with the focus on the 6th grade class and followed the students as they matriculated through 7th and 8th grades. The second group of students graduated in May 2022, and in the fall of 2022, the program started again with the new group of students. YEP will work with these students over the next 3 years.

A needs assessment was conducted in the fall of 2021 with HUMS2 to determine the effectiveness and direction of the programming. Based on student needs, YEP’s focus is now on girls. School administrators communicated the need to keep a STEAM curriculum, as well as addressing school engagement, team building, mental and physical wellness, and making overall healthy choices. YEP is an after-school program with an assigned HUMS2 teacher, and girls and families are actively recruited to participate via teachers and administrators. Families must be committed to providing transportation after school.

Unique aspects of the program: STEAM Entrepreneurial Pitch Competition; Teen Wellness Circles with Pink Rocki Foundation; Black Opera Performance (developing their own opera).

The Arts Facet

Goal: The goal of The Arts facet is to increase and expand art activity throughout our communities. The support of the arts by The Links, Incorporated can be traced to our co-founder, Margaret Roselle Hawkins, whose innate artistic talent earned her a four-year scholarship to the Women’s School of Design (later known as the Moore Institute of Art). Her passion for creative expression and the arts helped to give root to the establishment of The Arts facet by The Links, Incorporated in 1964.

Through this facet, we create and support art-related educational opportunities for minority youth and sponsor performances by young people and accomplished professional artists in an array of disciplines. In partnership with museums, symphonies, art councils, educational institutions, and corporations, we are sowing the seeds of deeper creativity.

Past Washington, DC Chapter Programs: The Arts facet has participated in multiple National and local programs, including Signature: Classics Through the Ages; the N Street Village Arts Studio Exhibit; the Visiting Artists Program; and art activities with Cleveland Park Elementary School.

Current Programming:

Integrated Programming led by the Services to Youth facet

Many African Americans, especially young people, have limited awareness of opera and other classical art forms. The Arts facet is seeking to spark the creativity of middle school girls from low-to-moderate households at the Howard University Middle School for Math and Science (HUMS2) by exposing them to a classical art form - opera - as a part of the YEP program begun by the chapter at HUMS2. The program will help expand their understanding and awareness of classical art forms and provide the students with a basic understanding of all aspects of an opera, including writing, music, set design and character development. The goals of the programming are:

Exposure to a classical art form

Collaboration skills

Self- expression

Intellectual growth and curiosity

Confidence

The Arts facet, in conjunction with the Coalition for African Americans in the Performing Arts (CAAPA), and the Services to Youth facet, is teaching the HUMS2 girls how to write and perform an opera. Students will write and direct an opera, including developing the story, characters, costumes, music, and designing the set. In addition, they will learn about African American opera singers and operas. Opera is considered by many to be the most complete art form, combining all the elements of art—words, music, drama and dance.

National Trends and Services Facet

Goal: The vision of the National Trends and Services (NTS) facet, established in 1964, is to eliminate disparities by reducing barriers to services through advocacy, education, and service. Our mission is to empower chapters to effectively empower the communities in which we work. In the NTS facet, we truly address the issues of the day.

Past Washington, DC Chapter Programs: Annual Caregivers’ Forum; AARP Pilot – Are You Ready? (adopted as a National initiative); Links’ Day at the DC City Council; N Street Village (Umbrella Program) – Employment Training and Miriam’s House Dinners and Nutrition Training (N Street Village Community Ally Awardee in 2012)

Current Programming

Fighting Voter Suppression Campaign - 2020-Present

Our mission/vision in implementing this program was to engage in a non-partisan campaign to encourage voter registration and voting. We have used this program as an opportunity to Get-Out- the-Vote (GOTV), to increase early voting and to guide voters to register or re-register.

We also used this program to improve citizen engagement by involving friends, family and community partners to participate. This effort supports our mission to enrich communities and to improve the quality of life for people of color. We view this program as an opportunity for transformational programming.

We partnered with the Center for Common Ground/Reclaim Our Vote, who work with local organizations across the country, running multiple campaigns to defend voting rights on the local, state and national level. Through our Reclaim Our Vote postcard campaign, we reached out to African American and Latino voters in states that had historically had or were actively experiencing voter suppression. As a partner, we volunteered to help educate and mobilize Black and Brown voters in these states to take action and protect their right to vote.

During the last two years, we reached 7,100 potential voters.

The Green and White Pages 2020-Present

The Green and White Pages is an evolving register of African American businesses in the DMV and currently is being used to encourage the use of Black-owned businesses by our members and others in the local community.

International Trends and Services Facet

Goals: The International Trends and Services (ITS) facet, established in 1978, provides services and delivers transformational programs to people of African ancestry globally so that they may have a better quality of life. Programs are designed and developed to service educational, health and cultural needs and to help people emerge from poverty. A primary objective of our international work is to enrich the lives of women and their families.

Past Programming: Embassy Luncheons, Pen Pals with Haiti, Technology Drive, Links International Foreign Affairs and Business Empowerment for Youth (LIFE) Program

Current Programming:

LIFE Program at Benjamin Banneker Academic High School—2013-Present

For the last ten years, the ITS facet of the Washington, D.C. chapter has worked with talented students at Benjamin Banneker Academic High School (BBAHS) throughout the school year. The chapter’s LIFE Program (which is a National Signature Program) was developed after a curriculum gap with respect to international affairs was identified by the administrators and faculty at BBAHS.

The LIFE Program is designed to educate students, starting in the freshman year of high school, on the many options they have in the world. ITS designed the LIFE Program to expose high school students to the vast career choices available beyond the United States. Historically and internationally, the program is a three-way partnership between The Links, Incorporated; local high schools; and colleges or universities, to expose students to information they will need to make informed decisions for college and become citizens of the world.

Program participants meet in person at BBAHS during the lunch hour, every third Thursday of the month from October to April.

Health and Human Services Facet

Goal: To promote and facilitate programs that support the maintenance of good health in communities of color through education, health advocacy and utilization of health resources. In 2010, The Links, Incorporated established the Health and Human Services facet in response 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.

Past Washington, DC Chapter Programming: The Health and Human Services (HHS) facet has participated in a wide variety of health-related programs including National and Area initiatives such as the Red Dress Event, DMV Walk for Healthy Living, oral health & dental screenings; and the Linkages to Life: An Organ, Tissue and Bone Marrow Donation Awareness Program to increase minority donors. Over the years, the chapter has spearheaded many health fairs – first under our National Trends and Services facet until HHS became a standalone facet -- for DC residents in conjunction with Providence Hospital. The chapter also initiated the Links to Healthy Smiles program with Howard University’s School of Dentistry and School of Communications, which provided preventative care to children ages 4-12 at a local school and a community center (adopted as a National initiative); produced a video entitled “Links to Healthy Smiles: A Story, A Song, An Adventure”.

Current Chapter Programs:

The chapter continues to participate in many of the programs above. In addition, we are also working on the following:

Health Fairs in Partnership with Operation Pathways. Operation Pathways has invested in affordable housing units throughout the USA and operates nine residential units in the District of Columbia. Over the past year, the HHS facet has partnered with Operation Pathways to present health fairs for the residents in three of the Operation Pathways buildings. The health fairs include mental health screening, dental screening, blood pressure screening, breast care education and mammograms. In addition, integrated programming was offered for specific populations. For the senior residents, the National Trends and Service and The Arts facets presented end-of-life planning, which included a presentation of legal issues and art therapy. For the family and youth fair, the Arts and Services to Youth facets offered storytelling, arts and crafts, healthy eating tips, and college preparation for middle and high school students. The HHS facet plans to continue this partnership with Operations Pathways in the years to come.

Umbrella Project with Bright Beginnings. The HHS facet has been the lead for this program. Bright Beginnings provides a variety of services and educational opportunities for families with young children who have faced homelessness. All facets have provided programming and the chapter’s work included the creation of a support group for mothers who have been impacted by different types of traumas. This support group recently has been incorporated into Bright Beginnings’ regular programming. The HHS facet also provided a presentation at Bright Beginnings regarding the impact of oral health on other health issues.

Health Updates. Members have presented to the chapter, and the broader community (sometimes in conjunction with the programming of other facets) on a variety of subjects, including the importance of