Roanoke Links program receives awards at Area conference.
The Roanoke (VA) Chapter of The Links proudly received two awards at the Links’ 48th Eastern Area Conference, held April 23-27 in New York City.
The Roanoke chapter received a Best Practices Award and a third-place Legacy Program Award, both for the chapter’s ‘Linked to Success: Growing Up G.R.E.A.T.” program now in its seventh year at Roanoke’s Hurt Park Elementary School.
The Best Practices Award – the chapter’s second such award for this program – represents recognition for a Links chapter demonstrating exceptional excellence in their work within the organization’s five facets: Services to Youth, The Arts, National Trends and Services, International Trends and Services, and Health and Human Services. The award highlights a chapter’s dedication to making a tangible difference in their communities and the world.
The “Linked to Success: Growing Up G.R.E.A.T.” Program incorporates the work of all five of the Roanoke chapter’s facet committees. (G.R.E.A.T. is an acronym for Global literacy; Respect [bullying prevention]; Education/career preparedness and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics)-ready careers/programs; the Arts and art education; and Total health and wellness.)
The Roanoke chapter also received a third-place Legacy Program Award for its “Linked to Success: Growing Up G.R.E.A.T.” Program. Legacy Program Awards recognize chapter programs that have existed for five or more years, and have been established and designed to continue its work and impact on communities – especially Black communities – for years to come.
The Roanoke chapter created “Linked to Success: Growing Up G.R.E.A.T.” in 2018 to address achievement gaps in Hurt Park Elementary students’ English reading, math and science performance, and chronic absenteeism. The program has brought foundational, development lessons to the school as Links members volunteer, during the school day, to expose students to STEAM education and career exploration/preparation. Students in Pre-K through fifth grade learn about the world around them – maintaining vegetable and pollinator gardens, traveling virtually around the world, bullying prevention and up-stander training, and the arts. Books are given to students through a grant from the National Wildlife Federation and other organizations.
The Roanoke chapter is one of 299 chapters of The Links, Incorporated, one of the oldest and largest volunteer service organizations of women who are committed to enriching, sustaining and ensuring the culture and economic survival of African Americans and other persons of African ancestry. The membership of The Links, Incorporated consists of more than 17,000 professional women of African descent in 299 chapters located in 41 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, and the United Kingdom.
Roanoke (VA) Chapter President is Rhonda Poindexter; Vice President is Carolyn Patterson.
