Services to Youth – The Links Exhibit
Children’s Books
This national Links, Incorporated program established reading rooms in inner-city libraries across the country. Locally, the Minneapolis/St. Paul (MN) Chapter donated culturally-relevant books to Rondo Library (St. Paul) and Sumner Library (Minneapolis), and established reading rooms at local elementry schools and the Minneapolis site of the Jeremiah Program.
Links members (l to r) Phyllis Ellis, Wenda Moore, Dr. Ida-Lorraine Wilderson, Lorraine Martin, and Fawn Wilderson, J.D.
Lexington Branch, 2002.
Partnerships
Way to Grow Partnership
This program assisted teenage mothers with finishing high school and developing life skills. Links members led a workshop called “How to Pack Your Bag,” which taught participants interview skills, how to eat nutritious foods, and more. Members also donated books, interview clothing, services, and organized an annual Christmas party for the families.
Dance Program Partnership
The Hallie Q. Brown Community Center Summer Dance Program for inner city girls began in 1987. The chapter partnered with this St. Paul community center to provide free ballet lessons, and a local shop donated leotards and ballet slippers. This program gave the youth an opportunity to learn a new art form from instructors who looked like them. The summer ended with a recital for their families.
Toy Drive Partnership
Annually, Links chapter members collected donations and sponsorships to purchase toys to give to local children at Hallie Q. Brown (St. Paul) and Phillis Wheatley (Minneapolis) Community Centers.
Girls Taking Action
Partnership
From the British royal wedding to the Ordway Music Theatre in St. Paul, virtuoso cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason performed with his sister and accomplished pianist, Isata Kanneh-Mason. Minneapolist/St. Paul (MN) Links sponsored Girls Taking Action students from Anwatin School (Minneapolis) and Hazel Park (St. Paul) to attend this Ordway Theatre concert. The students remarked “we loved their performance.”
Debutante Cotillion
The Minneapolis/St. Paul (MN) Chapter’s thirty-one year Debutante Program began in 1981. Chapter members wanted to provide this developmental, coming-of-age event to local young women in their senior year of high school. The cotillion was part services to youth program and part fundraiser. Proceeds from the debutante ball helped fund scholarships and other community programming.
Left: Debutante handbook.
The debutante experience lasted approximately six months. During the program, young women, each sponsored by a chapter member, attended a variety of events all designed to prepare them for the cotillion ball and for the next stages of their college and professional life. The Debutantes attended etiquette classes, learned to waltz, enjoyed a formal tea, participated in women’s issues seminars, attended a career fair, learned skills to navigate successfully in college and in the workplace, and completed a community service project.
The culminating event was the formal cotillion ball. The young women, dressed in white gowns and gloves, were escorted into the event and presented to the room filled with friends, family, and community. Each young woman was recognized, and her current achievements and future ambitions were celebrated by all those present. Many who participated in the debutante program were one of very few people of African ancestry in their high schools. They cherished the opportunity to form friendships with each other and Links members. These bonds often lasted into college and through adult life.
“I was one of four Black students in my school. This was a corrective experience for me. It gave me time to not feel different, instead to feel empowered and beautiful surrounded by my peers and supportive Black women”.
– Illysha Minor, Class of 2008; now Critical Care Administrator, Wellstar Health System, Atlanta.
“It was an opportunity to meet other Black girls and professional women where we felt valued and special and beautiful.”
– Batala McFarlane, Class of 1992; now publisher of Insight News, Minneapolis.
The Young Women’s Issues Forum began in 1992 as an expansion of the existing debutante workshop.
The forum focused on providing space for young women of African ancestry (ages 12-18) from across the Twin Cities to come together. In a supportive environment, they discussed issues of common concern and shared ideas and strategies to help them cope with the many pressures they may have faced. They were surrounded by positive role models that fostered and enhanced their self confidence, self esteem, and self worth.
Forum workshops covered a variety of relevant topics such as racism and sexism, dating and relationships, teen stress, coping with peer pressure, loving yourself from the inside out, substance abuse, mental health, setting life goals, managing conflict, and many more. Each year a well known, often nationally known, African American woman delivered an inspiring keynote presentation to the group.
Over 1,600 young women participated in the program. For many of the participants, this program was a rare opportunity to discuss issues of importance in a safe space surrounded by other girls and women who looked like them. This program confirmed the need and commitment that representation matters.
*“I think my friends really need to hear these things.
They need to see positive Black women talking about our heritage and how special we really are.”
*“[This] was great…[it] helped me realize that everything I do, I am held accountable for.
[This] has given me the push I needed to get moving.”
*“I believe Black female role models are needed and this activity shows just how many there are.”
*Comments from Forum participants
The Women’s Support Session
Family members of the Young Women’s Issues Forum attendees were interested in learning more about their own health and well-being while their daughters were in session. The Women’s Support Session was formed to create this space.
Forum Speakers
Some of the remarkable women who spoke at the Forum:
Dr. Bertice Berry (television personality) • Hydeia Broadbent (HIV/AID Activist)
Ashley Coleman (Miss Teen USA 1999 ) • Dominique Dawes (Olympian) • Gail Devers (Olympian)
Teresa Edwards (WNBA player and Olympic gold medalist) • Chamique Holdsclaw (Olympian)
Kenya James (Black Girl Magazine) • Melba Moore (actress and singer)
Deborah Prothrow-Stith, M.D. (Ass’t Dean, Harvard School of Public Health, Expert on Teen Violence)
Susan L. Taylor (Editor-in-Chief of Essence Magazine & VP of Essence Communications Inc.)
Patricia Russell-McCloud, J.D. (former National President of The Links, Incorporated and renowned orator)
Iyanla Vanzant (television personality and author)
Linked 4 Leadership
Linked For Leadership
Linked for Leadership began in 2012. This program, like the Debutante program, aimed to boost the self esteem of young women and prepare them for success in the next phases of their collegiate and professional lives. The program was designed to help the young women see themselves, and each other, as valuable, positive role models for the community.
This ten-week workshop program began with an overnight retreat designed to take the young women out of their comfort zone, and bond with each other and program leaders. The program ended with a celebratory graduation event. Workshops included how to apply for college, a career fair, interactions with their parents, male-female relationships, and more.
Linked for Leadership 2
Linked For Leadership 2 was created in partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters Twin Cities. Middle school African American girls and their “Bigs” attended workshops both together and individually. The program increased confidence and self-esteem in the “Littles.” It strengthened the bonds between the pairs, and increased retention of the “Bigs” as the “Littles” were transitioning from being little kids to tweens and teens.
Scholarships
Over the past 50 years, the Minneapolis/St. Paul (MN) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated has awarded more than one million dollars in scholarships to over 1,000 college bound youth who demonstrated financial need and superior academic achievement. Other fundraising events supported community organizations like Penumbra Theatre and the YMCA.
The scholarship program was supported in partnership with a variety of large fundraiser events such as the Fashion Show, Mardi Gras Party, the Debutante Cotillion, and most recently, Quarantine Blues. In addition to these events, scholarship funds were donated by foundations, corporations, and individual donors.
Scholarships were awarded to high school seniors of African ancestry with a B average or better. Each applicant took college preparatory courses, supplied a letter of recommendation, and presented evidence of community involvement. Recipients attended both public and private high schools around the Twin Cities metro area.
The majority of scholarship prizes range between $1,000 and $2,500. Up to 30 deserving scholars receive their award during the annual African American Achievement Awards. At this award program, local African American organizations recognize metro youth and their academic excellence.
Fundraisers for Scholarships and Programs
Mardi Gras
The Mardi Gras event began in the 1980s. It was a unique approach to fundraising. Instead of the traditional white tablecloths and formal attire, the room was filled with colorful tables, beautiful costumes, and a New Orleans-style second line. The Mardi Gras fundraiser was quite popular and continued into the late 1990s.
Left, below: Mardi Gras Party attendees, including Lou Bellamy, Dr. Josie Johnson and Pete Williams, 1997.
Right: Links member Marcia Murray leading the second line.
Quarantine Blues
This 2020 virtual wine tasting fundraiser continued to raise funds for scholarships and programming.
It was one of the most successful chapter fundraisers to date. The model has been adopted by other Links chapters, sororities and fraternities, and social organizations