The Links, Incorporated created its first program facet, Services to Youth, to equip Black youth to use their intellect and spirit of achievement to become successful and productive citizens. Today, The Links, Incorporated continues to implement aligned, integrated and transformational programs that are responsive to the academic, health, cultural, social awareness, career development and mentoring needs of youth.

 

 

PACE School for Girls Mentoring Initiative

The Links, Incorporated has entered into a national partnership with National Cares Mentoring Movement (NCMM). Through this partnership, local chapters support NCMM’s commitment to closing the gap between the number of African-American adult mentors and the millions of willing African-American children on the waiting lists of mentoring organizations throughout the nation.

 

Our chapter works with the Treasure Coast PACE School for Girls in Fort Pierce, Florida (St. Lucie County). We provide mentorship through our monthly speakers’ bureau program. Each month during the program year, a member of the community addresses the young women of PACE and provides information about their background and experience to assist in personal and professional development.

 

 

Linking Together Against Childhood Obesity Initiative

The Links, Incorporated plans to increase awareness and heighten understanding surrounding the multi-dimensional issues that contribute to obesity in African-American children. Additional goals are to:

• Develop an action-oriented agenda for disseminating key messages that aid in the prevention of childhood obesity among African-American children.

• Establish approaches that will strengthen collaborative networks regarding obesity prevention to sustain on-going health initiatives.

 

Our chapter's childhood obesity signature tranformational program - Project N.E.E.D (Nutrition, Education, Exercise and Discipline) is conducted at the Fort Pierce Avenue J Boys and Girls Club of St Lucie County. The mission is to promote positive development among African-American youth through implementing programs that enhance healthy living, academic success and cultural awareness.

 

The chapter also partners with Dasie Hope Bridgewater Center after-school academy in Indian River County, to provide instruction in The Links, Incorporated’s Can You Imagine Me Childhood Obesity Prevention program.

 

 

Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCU) Initiative

The goal of the National HBCU Initiative is to implement and support efforts that align with President Obama's plan to increase the retention and graduation rates of students attending college by the year 2020. While emphasizing the relevance of HBCUs' past, present, and future, this initiative will create synergy and complement program initiatives already underway. The Links, Incorporated supports HBCUs and encourages chapters to mentor and recruit students to attend and graduate from HBCUs.

 

 

Education Linkage Initiative 

The Treasure Coast chapter’s Education Linkage Initiative is tied directly to our HBCU Initiative scholarship program awards. Our chapter awards a four-year renewable scholarship to one student in each of our three counties (Indian River, Martin, and St. Lucie) every four years.