Facet Members:

Danyelle Walker, Pam Mobley, Frances Harris

The International Trends and Services facet provides services and delivers transformational programs to people of African ancestry globally so that they may have a better quality of life. Programs are designed and developed to service educational, health and cultural needs and to help people emerge from poverty. A primary objective of our international work is to enrich the lives of women and their families.

Our “boots on the ground” approach provides for more personalized methods for assisting and improving the lives of women, children and men worldwide through long-term programs committed to empowerment and public policy leadership in advocating for social justice.

Since the International Trends and Services Facet was formed in 1970, The Links, Incorporated has demonstrated its commitment to enriching and sustaining the cultural and economic survival of people of African ancestry, through friendship and service. See the link on the national website for details on signature programs..http://www.linksinc.org/portfolio-item/internationaltrendsandservices/. 

Locally our Chapter has supported and partnered with JA Fair Model UN program and Henderson Middle School to provide programing to expose middle and high school students to international affairs and opportunities for engagement from their communities. Members of our facet also traveled to Montego Bay, Jamaica to participate in a mission trip focused on education and community enrichment for 5 schools in the area. Program activities are detailed below: 

Program Activities:

Model UN

Locally, the Little Rock Chapter of Links, Inc have supported JA Fair’s Model UN program since 2015. Our initial support was to partner with Central High School and support a Model UN conference in 2014 to prepare current clubs for competition and to promote interest from other Little Rock schools. Increasing the number of students of color that participant in Model UN clubs was the measurable goal. JA Fair’s established their program after this conference starting with 5 AA students and through the next four years expanding to 25 students, all AA.

Support for the club has included sponsorship for travel to competitions at University of Central Arkansas ( https://uca.edu/politicalscience/model-united-nations/amun/) Rhodes College in Memphis (https://www.rhodes.edu/academics/majors-minors/international-studies/model-united-nations-rhodes) and University of Arkansas Little Rock ( https://ncusar.org/modelarableague/conferences/ualrmal/). UCA also sponsors a summer camp. https://uca.edu/politicalscience/files/2019/07/Program-Schedule-2019.pdf The LR Chapter of Links, Inc solicited the assistance of Dr. Mark Mullenbach (director of UCA Model UN program) dedicated special time to help the students prepare for competing, since they were a new club.

The MUN conference is an experiential learning activity with the primary goal of providing high school students with a unique opportunity to enhance their communication skills, improve their critical thinking skills, and increase their understanding of diplomacy and international politics. The MUN conference provides a setting in which students simulate representatives of various countries throughout the world in the decision-making bodies of the United Nations.  Students who participate in the MUN conference will develop an appreciation for the social, political, and economic systems of their respective countries. Students are also able to gain an understanding of the history and structure of the United Nations. The students will have the opportunity to learn the importance of cooperation in dealing with global problems. This has allowed students to research assigned countries to support discussions on international affairs from the perspective of those countries while experiencing being on college campuses. The Links solicited the assistance of Dr. Mark Mullenbach (director of UCA Model UN program) dedicated special time to help the students prepare for competing, since they were a new club. (Click on the photo below to see album.)

Mandela Exhibit 2017 

Provided international experiences for Girls Inc and Girls Rock group of 110 students through a field trip to the Clinton Presidential Library exhibit of Nelson Mandela: The Journey to Ubuntu Nov 17, 2017. A pre-assessment survey was administered to test knowledge about Mandela’s work and impact. The survey was repeated after a guided tour by Clinton Library docent. The students watched a video, walked through an exhibit which chronological captured Mandela’s fight against apartheid to his Presidency. The post survey demonstrated a mark improvement in the girls knowledge of the importance of this international icon. 

Clinton Library exhibit with highlights from Mandela: The Journey to Ubuntu tells the story of a young South African boy who became a man prepared to die in the name of equality, justice, and freedom, and, then, the President who led his country out of Apartheid. Visitors will experience the places and moments that played an integral role in President Mandela and South Africa’s journey through apartheid. “We all generally know he was a great man who was confined for 27 years and came out and instead of being hateful he invited his jailers to his inauguration,” Clinton said. “He lived by the spirit of what is in the Zulu language called ‘Ubuntu.’ It means in English ‘I am because you are.’ We like to think we exist separate from one another but we don’t.” Clinton said he learned from Mandela to not hold onto anger despite the challenges he faced in office.(Click on the photo below to see album.)

Lecture in Little Rock features Clinton, Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf ; West African talks up women’s role

December 5, 2017 

It’s time for Americans to again invest in the West African country of Liberia, former President Bill Clinton said Monday night at the Statehouse Convention Center during a lecture with Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

The lecture was hosted by the Clinton Foundation and the Clinton School of Public Service. It was the 27th installment of the Frank and Kula Kumpuris Distinguished Lecture series.

Clinton urged Americans to “go live and work for a while” in Liberia and to do what they can to contribute to the country’s success and help the small country rebuild its infrastructure, increase its access to health care and to cultivate the country’s many resources.

Little Rock Chapter of Links, Inc ITS facet hosted a reception for President Johnson Sirleaf, who is an honorary Link. (Click on the photo below to see album.)

Jamaica Mission Trip

Members from The Links, Inc. return to Jamaica for Humanitarian Mission Trip

Little Rock Links Gloria Richard-Davis and Donna Terrell joined more than 190 members of The Links, Incorporated returned to Montego Bay, Jamaica on January 23rd, on another humanitarian mission to benefit education, health care and welfare for the island nation’s schools and students.

By the end of the four-day visit – their third since 2016 – the organization of African-American women connected in friendship and service will have invested altogether about one million dollars in the economy and devoted over 5,000 volunteer service hours.

The delegation’s ultimate goal is to make a sustainable impact and create lasting partnerships in communities of need throughout Jamaica.

Links members and their families brought a variety of school supplies, including books and pens – all basic tools needed for better education – to share with students and their families. Included in the donations are 160 Kindle Fire tablets to support youth technology interests and efforts.

As in past years, led by the organization’s president, Dr. Glenda Newell-Harris, the delegation visited the partner schools during the three-year project: St. Mary’s Preparatory, Mt. Zion Primary and Watford Hill Primary schools.

The visit will focus on five program areas: technology presentations, anti-bullying training, arts, oral and physical hygiene, and CPR training for 4th graders to 6th graders.

Support from sponsors such as the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) has also enabled members to finance and implement resource specialists to the educators who are focusing on teaching enhanced reading, writing and math practices.

“While our aim has been to extend helping hands of friendship and service to those with whom we interact and connect with in Jamaica, this trip is one of mutual transformation,” We look forward to making a difference in the lives of our children, who are our future, on the beautiful island nation of Jamaica.” (Click on the photo below to see album.)

Heifer International is a global nonprofit working to eradicate poverty and hunger through sustainable, values-based holistic community development. Heifer distributes animals, along with agricultural and values-based training, to families in need around the world as a means of providing self-sufficiency.