The Petersburg VA Chapter  

            The Links, Incorporated

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The Links, Incorporated

History of The Links, Incorporated:

The Petersburg Chapter

The Links, Incorporated was founded November 9, 1946 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  The founders are Sarah Strickland Scott and Margaret Roselle Hawkins.  It is one of the oldest and largest volunteer service organizations of women who are committed to enriching, sustaining, and ensuring the culture and economic survival of all people of African origin.  The Links, Incorporated has a membership of over 11,000 professional women of color serving 273 chapters in 42 states, the District of Columbia, Germany, South Africa and the Bahamas.  Through its philanthropic arm, The Links Foundation, Incorporated has contributed more than 22 million dollars to charitable causes since its founding.  In 2006, members contributed more than 500,000 documented hours of hands-on service to assist communities throughout the United States, Africa, and in developing countries.

The Links, Incorporated continues to be individually and collectively committed as an organization, to educational, civic, and intercultural activities.  Through four program facets: Services to Youth; National Trends and Services; The Arts; and International Trends and Services, the organization is involved in  an effort to address issues and concerns that impact on the quality of life for individuals.

The Petersburg Chapter of The Links, Incorporated is the fourth chapter.  It was chartered on May 7, 1948.  The late Doris Reynolds of the Philadelphia Chapter presided at the chartering of the Petersburg Chapter and the induction of fourteen charter members.  The late Eunice Brown Robbins, organizer of the chapter, served as first president.  The charter members include: Cleopatra Armstrong, Ruth Baker, Gladys Bland, Alma Brown, Marietta Cephas, Gladys Green, Evelyn Jenkins, Josephine Jones, Uarda Parnell, Susie Verdell, Adelaide White, Helen Williams and Virginia Williams.   Among the charter members of the Petersburg Chapter, Marietta Cephas originated the music to the national song for The Links, Incorporated.

In the beginning, the chapter provided community service for both Petersburg and Richmond areas.  Early projects included purchasing hearing aids for those in need; providing baskets of food and dinners for needy families for Thanksgiving; adopting teenagers; providing music lessons for youth; making donations to the YMCA Day Camp; the Red Cross; March of Dimes and NAACP Defense Fund.  The chapter honored and recognized candy stripers for volunteering 26,457 hours over a period of five years to Petersburg General Hospital (now, Southside Regional Medical Center).  When the Richmond Chapter was chartered in 1952, the  chapter continued its programs in the Petersburg area.

Indeed, the chapter is an outreach, non-profit, tax exempt organization which implements the standards of our national organization.    In keeping with the national mission statement, the chapter executes an inner calling of friendship and pertinent service.  We strive diligently to uphold standards, to fulfill the hopes and dreams of others, and to instill confidence in those who are lacking in it. We provide enriching experiences and support those who are culturally deprived, by focusing on the aesthetics. We embrace the Links’ insignia which is the globe encircled with a chain to denote our effort to reach out and make a positive difference in the world at large.

The Petersburg Chapter is geographically grouped with the Eastern Area states of which Dr. Bishetta Merritt is the director.  In the Chapter, there are 37 members, 16 alumni, and one provisional member.  The chapter primarily consists of professional African American women who run the gamut of occupations and experiences.  The cadre of women consists of a member of The House of Delegates/ registered nurse, engineers, entrepreneurs, a contract administrator, a medical doctor, an author, a television news reporter, university professors, a judge, a lawyer, house wives, educational administrators, a director of leadership, teachers, guidance counselors, a director of conference services, a UNCF area director, business women, government and military workers, social workers, and spiritual leaders.   Despite the variation of occupations, the chain that ties us together is our commitment to render service to the community, which expands throughout Virginia and beyond.

The chapter has received the following recognition and awards:

• Workshop Presenters – National Assemblies 1986, 1988, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2006
• Workshop Presenters – Eastern Area Conferences 1987, 1993, 1995, 2001, 2007
• National Assembly recognition for outstanding programs, 1986
• Eastern Area recognition for outstanding programming in “ Services to Youth and National Trends and Services,” 1987 and 1989
• State Board of Education recognition for outstanding programs and activities for students enrolled in the Petersburg Public Schools, 1986
• Petersburg School Board, 1986, 1989. 1994, 1995, 1996

Membership into the organization is based on nomination from active members, and it is extended to Heir-O-Links, who are daughters of active Links.