Black Professional Women Make an Impact in the Greensboro Community
Special to the Peacemaker / April 28, 2022
One of several donations to community organizations made during the 2021-22 programming year by members of The Greensboro Chapter of The Links, Inc. Pictured L-R:The Honorable Teresa Vincent, vice president; Paula Jeffries McKinney, programming co-chairperson; Dr. Jewell Cooper, president of the Greensboro Chapter; representatives with the American Cancer Society and Cheryl Blakemore. Photo courtesy Courtesy The GSO Links, Inc.
The Greensboro (N.C.) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, a group of professional Black women connected in friendship and service, have made an indelible impact in Greensboro and the surrounding area during the past year. Through programmatic work, they have touched and improved the lives of more than 5,000 area residents.
A few of the holiday toy donations collected by the Greensboro Chapter of The Links, Inc. during outdoor festivities at UNC Greensboro (Dec. 2021). Photo courtesy GSO Links, Inc.
Programs were implemented within the organization’s five facet areas: The Arts, National Trends and Services, International Trends and Services, Health and Human Services, and Services to Youth.
The Links, Incorporated Southern Area HBCU Initiative identified two HBCU Servant Leaders Scholars from North Carolina A&T State University. The Greensboro (N.C.) Chapter, along with the Grandiflora (N.C.) Chapter, presented the $2,500 contribution from the Southern Area to each student to support their university fees and engaged them in a service project where the students designed a COVID-19 public service announcement. The Chapter also contributed $1,500 to the Southern Area HBCU Capital Campaign this year.
Another significant program was a partnership with the N.C. Legislative Black Caucus to host a webinar on North Carolina’s Redistricting Process. The event, at which Mayor Nancy Vaughan and State Senator Ben Clark presented and educated voters on the redistricting process at all levels of government. Members of the Chapter’s Legislative Issues, Public Affairs, and Disaster Relief Committee also met with N.C. Senator Gladys Robinson to discuss local/state issues. Two areas of focus were identified during the meeting: Health, Economic Sustainability, and Health Issues in the Pandemic. More specifically, the committee discussed eliminating tax on menstrual products and Medicaid expansion.
Among the other special guests who have participated in the Chapter’s programs this year are: Dr. Sharon Contreras, Superintendent, Guilford County Schools System; Dr. Suzanne Walsh, President of Bennett College; Andrena Coleman, National Quilting/Fabric Artist; Darlene J. McClinton, International Artist, Muralist and Educator; NAACP Image Award Winner Tammi Mac, LA Radio Personality and FOX Television Talk Show Host; Actress Deja Dee (Queen Sugar, Sisters, Women of the Movement); and Broadway, Stage, Theatre and Concert Performer Jayne Trinette (Lion King, Smoky Bones Café, Dream Girls).
Currently, the Chapter is running an educational media blitz that began April 10th and will continue through election day in Guilford County (May 17th) to inform our community about the state of our schools. To amplify the campaign, Black fraternities and sororities and other community groups have been requested to share the information on their social media networks so people can make an informed decision as to whether to vote for or against the referendum.
“What a year!” said Program Co-Chair Paula McKinney of the Greensboro (N.C.) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated. “The circumstances of the ongoing Pandemic created even more opportunities for our Greensboro (N.C.) Chapter to step up and SHINE for our greater Greensboro area community.”
Other Chapter programs over the past year include National and Southern Area Initiatives such as: Links-STEMREADY, Linkages to Life, Walk for Healthy Living, HEAL (Healthy Equity Ambassador Links Program), Connecting the Threads, Closing the Gap in Foster Care, HBCU Class Act Award, Healthy Homestead, and Artist Noir, among others.
Additionally, members of the Greensboro (N.C.) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated continued to show their generosity and care for our community by contributing blankets, coats, and gift cards for adults and youth in the Greensboro area.
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