The Roanoke Chapter of The Links, Inc. culminated its year-long program that exposes young people to a culture outside of their own, with a dinner outing May 12 at La Elenita restaurant in Roanoke.
The program—LEYTAC, an acronym for Links Exposing Youth to Another Culture—is the focus of the chapter’s “umbrella” project. The project incorporates the purpose and work of The Links’ five facets: the Arts, International Trends and Services, National Trends and Services, Health and Human Services, and Services to Youth. Led by Dr. Jennifer Alston, the chapter’s International Trends chair, LEYTAC expanded a three-year relationship the chapter had with CAFÉ Kids, an after-school program that aims to enrich students’ academic achievement in a way that is fun and engaging.
From November 2015 to April of this year the Links, through the LEYTAC program, conducted sessions on etiquette, healthy Spanish eating, anti-bullying, and Salsa and Bachata dance. Links who led sessions included JoAnne Poindexter, Anita Price, Dr. Karanita Ojomo, Sandra Davis, Taisha Steele and Kianna Price Wade. All of the programming components utilized the Spanish language and culture.
At the culminating event, CAFÉ Kids were presented with certificates. The young people then made a presentation of “Sweets to the Links” because, as they said, Links “were so sweet!” One of the participants and volunteers, Tyree McIntosh, who wrote a poem, read and presented it to the chapter.
The Roanoke Chapter is one of 283 chapters of The Links Inc. President of the Roanoke chapter is Connie Steele; vice president is Patricia Joiner.
