A Message from the President
The Little Rock (AR) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, is the local affiliate of an international organization of more than 17,000 professional women of African descent in 299 chapters located in 41 states, the District of Columbia, the United Kingdom, and the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. As one of the nation’s oldest and largest volunteer services organizations, we are committed to engaging in educational, civic, and intercultural activities aimed at sustaining, enriching, and ensuring the cultural and economic survival of African Americans and their communities.
The Links organization was founded on November 9, 1946, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Sarah Scott and Margaret Hawkins. Members represent the world of business, healthcare providers, civic leaders, government, media, academia, philanthropy, the arts and more. The organization was incorporated in 1951.
The Little Rock (AR) Chapter, founded in 1956, continues the organization’s record of community service with programs designed to be sustainable and have measurable impact on health, education, and the overall quality of life for underserved families. Our donations to Arkansas HBCU’s have exceeded $200,000 in the past 10 years, in addition to donating more than $200,000 in scholarships to graduating high school female seniors since 2015.
The chapter delivers its service through five facets, which include: Services To Youth, The Arts, National Trends, International Trends and Health and Human Services. We work toward our vision by engaging like-minded individuals and organizations. The chapter is an inaugural participant in the Links National Black K.A.R.E (Kidney Awareness Resources and Education) project. Our partnership with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) and the Baxter Foundation to execute this program aimed at increasing awareness of kidney disease in the Black community won awards for program integration and community outreach at the 2023 Links Central Area Conference and for transformational programing at the 2024 Links National Assembly.
Our current partnership with the Community Family Enrichment Center in Arkadelphia supports the establishment of a community garden addressing the importance of healthy food in managing chronic disease.
We also partnered with the Arkansas Black Caucus, UAMS and the Arkansas Medical Dental and Pharmaceutical Association to present a program bringing awareness to maternal childbirth mortality in the Black community. We continue our mentoring activities with J.A. Fair K-8 Preparatory Academy by providing a culinary medicine class, COVID supplies as requested, and classes on conflict resolution and Cardio-pulmonary resuscitation. A local textile artist, activist and poet presented her book on the magic of black hair to the students at J.A. Fair, boosting the girls’ self-esteem. The chapter has provided over $20,000 in support of high school bands through its Battle of the Bands contest. We support an annual Christmas celebration at Centers for Youth and Families, participate annually in the Jane Mendel Reading Day and have donated books to the schools in the Little Rock School District. The Chapter installed a Positivity Bench in Bernice Gardens as a place for relaxation and reflection in 2022.
The Little Rock (AR) Chapter has been recognized for our community service by several organizations, including the Arkansas Woman’s Foundation, Volunteers in Public Schools, The Sphinx Foundation of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
We celebrate 68 years of service during the 2024-2025 program year. As we move forward linked in Friendship and Service, we pledge to continue our efforts to honor our beloved organizers and charter members by doing all in our power to preserve the mission, integrity, and legacy of The Little Rock (AR) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated.
Annette Slater, MD
Chapter President