Services To
The Youth
Health & Human Services
The West Palm Beach (FL) Chapter of 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. The goal of HHS is to promote and facilitate programs that support the maintenance of good health. We collaborate with Community Partners to achieve measurable objectives in a variety of settings.
MENTAL HEALTH: The West Palm Beach (FL) Chapter created and published iSeek : A Resource Guide for African American Women to assist with identifying issues and finding help . We recognize the mind-body connection and want to promote optimal mental health.
DENTAL VAN: We collaborated with the Colgate Bright Smiles Bright Futures, a,national program, to provide dental screening for 55 children (infant-age5) at,RCMA Belle Glade Child Development Center. Four children had severe dental,problems and parents were advised to seek care for the child as soon as possible.
WEST PALM BEACH LIGHT THE NIGHT: We partner with the Leukemia and,Lymphoma Society for its annual walk to raise funds and awareness. Myeloma is a,cancer of the blood in which African Americans are diagnosed at twice the rates,as whites.
NATIONAL BREAST CANCER INITIATIVE: We partner with the Spady Cultural,Museum and Susan G. Komen Shades of Pink to educate the Links membership,and the communities we serve about the importance of knowing one’s family,history and the risk factors for breast cancer, especially triple negative breast,cancer which impacts African-Americans at higher rates. We participate in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.
MALL-WALK: We recognize the importance of fitness and self-care. To that end, members of the Chapter meet at a designated Mall once a month for a grou walk.
COLLABORATION: as requested – We collaborate with the ARTS facet by providing healthy snacks for the childrenmwho are participating in the L.E.A.P. program.
We have collaborated with the NATIONAL TRENDS and SERVICES facet by presenting educational talks about body image as well as hair and skincare.
The Arts
The Arts Facet of the West Palm Beach (FL) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated has a long standing history in the West Palm Beach community of supporting the visual and performing arts. The purpose of the Arts Facet is to increase and expand art activity, and elevate our programs through arts integration within our organization’s programmatic efforts. Our primary program include Art About Us and By Us and the Links Educational Arts Program.
The West Palm Beach (FL) Chapter debuted its artist reception entitled “Art About Us and By Us in 2015.” Now executed annually as a Chapter Fundraiser, the program showcases art of the African diaspora creating opportunity for exposure to nationally acclaimed minority artists while providing a venue for youth and local artists to showcase their works of art. In alignment with the Arts Facet Strategic Plan, the annual ‘Art About Us and By Us’ program increases participants’ awareness of visual and performance arts through arts education and community involvement. In 2015, this Integrated Program was recognized by the Southern Area of the Links, incorporated as a Best Practice based on peer review.
National Trends & Services
The VISION of the National Trends and Services facet is to eliminate disparities by reducing barriers to services through advocacy, education, and service. Our MISSION is to empower the chapter to effectively empower the communities in which we work. The West Palm Beach Chapter, National Trends and Services Facet, has adopted KidSanctuary Campus, a charitable organization in Palm Beach County committed to assisting children who have been removed from their homes because of abuse, neglect or abandonment. The campus has 3 homes, consisting of 18 young people that we have mentored since 2013. We had provided activities consisting of: Table setting and Dining Etiquette, Anti-bullying and Self-esteem workshops, Beading workshop, Wallet Wise (visa debit cards and lessons on how to track their spending), Bowling event, International dinner, skin care workshop, healthy food nutritional class, and several evenings in the Arts!
International Trends & Services
The mission of the International Trends and Services facet is to expand the global platform for programs designed and developed to service the educational, health and cultural needs of people of African descent throughout the world. All programmatic components of the facet are delivered through measurable and sustainable service delivery methods that reach women and their families. Paramount to our involvement is the Chair’s participation in the upcoming Boots on the Ground national campaign for Jamaica. This is the second year of the project and we will be working with several schools and a hospital in the coming year.
