Greetings from President Ilene Jones Fraser
Greetings from the top of the boot! The Shreveport (LA) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated is standing on a 50-year history of service in the Greater Shreveport/Bossier Area while stepping in the future! April 15, 1973, is the day the Shreveport (LA) Chapter was chartered by ten outstanding women leaders in the Shreveport community: Susie Hendrix, Susie Woods, Verna Jacobs, Martha Duncan, Bennie Ruth Simpkins, Mavice Wallette, Rosetta Reed, Ida Edwards, Mandura Brown and Maxine Sarpy. We proudly continue this legacy through friendship and transformational programming focused on the arts and cultural awareness, health equity and health awareness, civic engagement, supporting our youth through educational initiatives and scholarships, and supporting international efforts. Comprised of incredibly, talented African American women who invest their resources, time and efforts, we embrace the responsibility of leadership by identifying areas of need specific to our community and commit to implementing solutions through service to address those needs.
The Links, Incorporated is an international, not-for-profit corporation, established in 1946. We are one of the nation’s oldest and largest volunteer service organizations of extraordinary women who are committed to enriching, sustaining, and ensuring the culture and economic survival of African Americans and other persons of African ancestry.Today, as an international organization linked by over 16,000 women in 292 chapters located in 41 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of the Bahamas and the United Kingdom, The Links, Incorporated continues its legacy of friends providing service that changes lives.
As a part of The Southern Area of The Links, Incorporated, we are connected to members across 82 Chapters in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Georgia and the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. We are focused on the mission of Friends Transforming Communities Through Service as we Lead with Intentional Friendship and Service. In the words of our Area Director Vanessa Falls, “Our programmatic thrusts focus on serving the underserved and being a voice for the voiceless, while simultaneously cultivating friendships within the organization. When we serve with friends, we strengthen existing connections, build closer relationships, and transform the communities we serve.”
Enjoy learning about our organization and our efforts to serve our community as friends!
Sincerely,
Ilene Jones Fraser
President of The Shreveport (LA) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated
History of the Shreveport (LA) Chapter of the The Links Incorporated
The Shreveport (LA) Chapter of the Links, Incorporated has been Linked Friendship and Connected in Service for 50 years! Enjoy this archival journey into the history of our chapter. This is our story of friendship and service in the greater Shreveport Community.
April 15, 1973, is the day the Shreveport (LA) Chapter was chartered. On this historic day, these women; Susie Hendrix, Susie Woods, Verna Jacobs, Martha Duncan, Bennie Ruth Simpkins, Mavice Wallette, Rosetta Reed, Ida Edwards, Mandura Brown and Maxine Sarpy became members of The Links, Incorporated. Leading this process were Southern Area Director Julia Purnell from Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Chapter Establishment Chair Anna J. Julian from Oak Park, Illinois. Also, in attendance were other members of the Links, Incorporated, Ercell Itch, Gwendolyn Floyd, and Albertine Hayes.
Serving as the inaugural leaders of the Shreveport (LA) Chapter were Susie Marie Woods as President, Mavice Colley Wallette as Vice President, Susie Hendrix as Treasurer, Maxine Sarpy as Financial Secretary, Rosetta Reed as Recording Secretary, Verna Jacobs as Assistant Secretary, and Martha Duncan as Chaplain. These outstanding community leaders rose to the occasion in service to the chapter.
Transformational Programming
Services to Youth
The Links, Incorporated created its first program facet, Services to Youth, to equip African American children with the intellect and spirit of achievement to walk with their fellows in leading the way. The Services to Youth Facet is an integrated approach to preparing young people to succeed and lead in the 21st-century workforce. The Shreveport (LA) Chapter’s STY programming remains not only an integral part of our service but very robust. For over a decade, we have mentored girls at Caddo Heights Elementary School through our Girls of Essence Program providing workshops on self-esteem, academic enrichment, leadership, and STEAM-based life skills such as Hands-Free CPR training to support their growth and development. In 2024, we expanded programming to Bethune Oak Park Elementary School doubling the number of girls that we serve.
The Arts
The Links, Incorporated’s support of the arts can be traced to our cultured co-founder Margaret Roselle Hawkins. Her innate artistic talent, discovered at a young age, helped give root to the establishment of The Arts facet in 1964 at the 14th National Assembly. The goal of The Arts facet is to increase and expand art activity, elevate our programs through arts integration, and effectively create an arts renaissance within our organization and programmatic efforts. The Shreveport (LA) Chapter supports these initiatives by exposing students of all ages to the Arts through our partnerships with the SUSLA Museum of Art, Shreveport Regional Arts Council (SRAC), Mahogany Ensemble Theater Company, and the Shreveport Ballet Company.
National Trends & Services
“Empowering People; Transforming Lives!” The vision of the National Trends and Services facet is to eliminate disparities by reducing barriers to services through advocacy, education, and service. The Shreveport (LA) Chapter implements programming to empower the communities in which we work. Our efforts focus primarily on voter registration, voter education, and our partnership with Dress For Success. Our voter efforts include education, non-partisan GEAUX VOTE efforts, as well as voter registration drives at the Southern University of Shreveport and Louisiana State University of Shreveport.
International Trends & Services
The goal of the International Trends and Services facet is to provide opportunities for tangible service in other countries. Our approach provides 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. Past partnership and support of the Institute for Global Outreach was a focus of the local efforts of this facet. Through our tenet of Service, the Shreveport (LA) Chapter along with other members of The Links, Incorporated supports the renovations and operations of a new dormitory for Bahamian women attending Bahamas University.
Health & Human Services
The mission of the Health and Human Services facet is: To promote and facilitate programs that support the maintenance of good health; and the elimination of chronic health disparities in communities of color through education, health advocacy, and equitable access to health resources. This facet brings greater focus, resources, and opportunities for collaboration to existing health-related initiatives of The Links, Incorporated. The Shreveport (LA) Chapter, focuses our efforts on programming to reduce health and economic disparities and to save and improve lives in the Black community. These activities include Walk for Healthy Living, a partnership with the National Dental Association to promote healthy dental practices at Caddo Heights Elementary, and the implementation of the Black Family Wellness Expo in partnership with Ochsner LSU Medical Center. As a 2023 Black K.A.R.E. grantee in partnership with Baxter Pharmaceuticals, we implement programming to educate, ameliorate, and hopefully eradicate Chronic Kidney Disease in our community.
Shreveport Links News
CONTACT US
Shreveport (LA) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated
P.O. Box 38005
Shreveport, LA 71133
MEDIA INQUIRIES
Von Jennings
info@shreveportlinks.org
Over the weekend, we enjoyed the Shreveport Metropolitan Ballet’s performance of Beauty and the Beast with Girls of Essence, our signature mentoring program. We also were able to support Gabbie, the daughter of our chapter member Dr. Wanda Henderson Thomas. ... See MoreSee Less
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We are still reflecting on our incredible Black Family Wellness Expo! Thank you to our media partners for getting the word out about this initiative and we appreciate KTAL News for coming out and highlighting all of the amazing work that took place at the event!
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Local families enjoy free mammograms, other health screenings
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Links has partnered with LSU Health for this event. Some of the resources that will be offered include health screenings, such as glucose and blood pressure checks and mammograms. There will also b…0 CommentsComment on Facebook
As we enter into a new month, we wanted to take a moment to say Happy Belated Birthday to some of our members with March Birthdays! Please join us in wishing them a HAPPY BIRTHDAY! ... See MoreSee Less
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Happy belated Birthday Link Sisters.💚🤍
Happy Birthday Sisters 💚💚💚
Happy Birthday my sister friends!💚💚💚