The Links, Incorporated is an international not-for-profit organization established in 1946. With more than 16,000 professional women of color in 288 chapters located in 41 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, and the United Kingdom. It is one of the nation’s oldest and largest volunteer service organizations committed to enriching and sustaining the culture and economic survival of African Americans and others of African ancestry. Members are influential decision makers and thought leaders who are Linked in Friendship and Connected in Service.
 
The Links Foundation, Incorporated is the philanthropic arm of The Links, Incorporated. Under the Foundation guidelines, grants are made to support outstanding and transformational programming. You may wonder how your support of this event contributes to our mission. One word: Programming
 
Service to the community through our Five Program Facets (The Arts, Health and Human Services, International Trends and Services, National Trends and Services and Services to Youth) is at the heart of what we do. The South Suburban Chicago (IL) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated engages in both local and international service programming. Through the L.E.G.O. (Links Eliminating Gaps in Opportunities) umbrella program, we focus on closing opportunity gaps in an effort to eliminate achievement gaps for children. Services to Youth serves as the lead Facet, supported by the other four Facets. In partnership with L.E.G.A.C.Y. (Leading Edge Group for Adults, Children and Youth) the goal of the SSCC Links is to reduce existing opportunity gaps by providing academic content support, experiences, and exposure in the areas of S.T.R.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) for children 8 - 9 years of age, while increasing awareness of STEM careers for students ages 6 - 12. We will accomplish this through a weekly after-school program that focuses on activities in reading, writing, health and the arts. In addition, the Health and Human Services and International Trends and Services Facets provides additional programming through the Black K.A.R.E. Kidney Health Awareness Program and a partnership with the Liberia School for the Blind in Africa.

Our chapter is in the third year of scholarship support to students across the country. Each of our six students receive $3000 in support of tuition payments. We are especially proud of their success thus far.
 
Dominique Browder, Florida A&M University, Bruce A Crisler, Jr. STEM Scholarship
Marshone Gordon, Eastern Illinois University
Kayla Austin, Howard University, Bernice Beard Deloney HBCU Scholarship
Charity Counts, North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University
Ashanti Ford, Northern Illinois University
Nyanna Harris, Illinois State University
 
We are thankful to our community and chapter members for their generous support. Look out for our spring Hats On scholarship fundraising event.
 
Love what we do? We welcome your support at any time. No amount is too small. For larger gifts, consider a direct donation through The Links Foundation, Incorporated. Send us a message and we’ll set it up.

President, Faye Terrell-Perkins
Vice-President, Benecia R. Spencer Williams*
Treasurer, Susan Coleman*
Assistant Treasurer, Stephanie Poole-Byrd
Recording Secretary, Michelle Lee*
Assistant Recording Secretary, Rosalyn Blaylock*
Corresponding Secretary, Michelle R. Willis*
Financial Secretary, Tracy L. Bradley
Assistant Financial Secretary, Karen Sutton Ford
Program & Strategic Planning Chair, Jennifer Norrell Cole*
Operations Chair, Octavia G. Matthews
Parliamentarian, Jacquelyn Heath Parker*†
Chaplain, Andrea Brookins-Brown*

Marta Adams
Tracey Alston
Sharon L. Baskerville*
Arifa Brookins-Hinton
Toiya Butler-White*
Leona Calvin*
Joyce Carter*
Tia Chambers
Monica Chambers*
Eileen Christmas*
Joan Crisler*
Viann Edwards-Davis†
Nadine DeJohnette*
Susan Egwele*
Marilyn Epps+
Aimee Eubanks-Davis*
Pamela N. Floyd*
Monica Lewis Fox*
Marchelle Goens
Sabrina Hughes*
Anita Jackson*

Dewnzar Jones*
Gwendolyn Lee*+
14th National President
Bettie Lewis
Dreina Lewis*
Jacqueline James Lewis*
Jaronda Lightfoot Hall*
Ashleigh McFarlin
Audrey Hudson McFarlin*
Cynthia McNeal
Kimberly Parker-Townsend*
Carmella Barrett Perry
Danielle Perry
Lisa Porter
Vantrella Proby-Walker*
Susan Smith Ross
Judy Summers
Mallory Sutton*
Karen Washington
Benecia R. Williams-Sargent*
Arlethia L. Wright*+ †

ALUMNAE
Dorothy Avant
Georgia Blackstone+
Theresa Boone
Jane Prescott Brown
J. Kamala Buckner
Arlene Y. Burke
Patricia Harris+
Sherby J. McCrowey
Anita Joyce Ponder
JoLean Gray Presley
Yvonne Robinson
Marcia J. Taylor
 
PLATINUM MEMBERS
Jane Prescott Brown+†
Audrey R. Carter+†
Anna Washington†
 
* Fundraising Committee
+Charter Members
†Platinum Members