Facet Programming – Fort Worth (TX) Chapter, The Links, Inc.

The two women envisioned an organization that would respond to the needs and aspirations of African-American women in ways that existing clubs did not.

Fort Worth (TX) Chapter, The Links Incorporated
Recognized Worldwide for Excellence in Programming

Services to Youth

Super Saturday Umbrella Programming

Facet Leadership: Theresa Austin, Yolanda Johnson Parker, Mrs. Onyinye Akujuo-Johnson

The Links, Incorporated’s Services to Youth facet utilizes an integrated approach to preparing young people to succeed in the 21st century workforce and to promote healthy lifestyles within families and communities. The Umbrella Program operates under the Services To Youth Facet umbrella as Lead, allowing collaboration with program facets to offer a spectrum of STEAM initiatives. Through monthly and quarterly interdisciplinary workshops and activities, each facet demonstrates STEM’s interconnected nature, promoting real-world problem-solving. Expert-led sessions, facilitated by chapter members, encourage holistic planning, implementation, and evaluation.

Health and Human Services focuses on health and wellness, addressing issues like food insecurity and organizing literacy events. International Trends and Services partners with local partners, Girls Incorporated, Texas Wesleyan University and Delta Sigma Theta for global advocacy, literacy read-ins and explores global STEM careers and cultural connections. The Arts Facet integrates arts into STEM, celebrating Black History Month through the African American Living Arts Museum, showcasing Black contributions to STEM. The National Trends and Services aligns with national, regional and local voting rights initiatives, offering seminars on Project 2025, voter registration, and civic education. This facet also works closely in local civic spaces to provide trained Volunteer Deputy Registers to support local elections. These collaborative efforts enhance existing programming, foster peer-to-peer learning, and promote practical application applied skills, ensuring a holistic and inclusive approach to community education and engagement

The Arts

Linking Art Through Transformative Programming

Facet Leadership: Misha Sturns, Airin Barnett

Locally, each programming month we create an intersectionality between the Living Arts Museum and STEM for Super Saturday. Our Arts Program provides a unique and comprehensive approach to community engagement, education, and empowerment in the Arts. The intersectionality leverages the strengths of each program—art, leadership development, and STEM—to foster holistic learning experiences, cultivate leadership skills, and expose youth to an integrated community service delivery model that uses arts, leadership development, and STEM education to empower youth, foster creativity, and address the pressing need for diverse voices in STEM, leadership, and the arts.

National Trends and Services

Empowering People; Transforming Lives!

Facet Leadership: Valerie Baston, Mattie Compton

The VISION of the National Trends and Services facet is to eliminate disparities by reducing barriers to services through advocacy, education, and service. The National Trends and Services facet is tasked with eliminating disparities by reducing barriers to resources through advocacy, education, and service. Our chapters are empowered to raise their voices and transform the communities in which they work. The facet’s goals include increasing the number of sustainable and measurable programs; increasing collaborative partnerships; and extending our existing initiatives to include communities identified as having the greatest need.

National Trends and Services encompasses the following programs and committees with national partners and sponsors, and serves as a catalyst for change, promoting individual and community empowerment. Our MISSION is to empower our chapters to effectively empower the communities in which we work. Our GOALS include increasing the number of sustainable and measurable programs; increasing collaborative partnerships; and extending our existing initiatives to include communities identified as having the greatest need.

Currently, the Fort Worth (TX) National Trends and Services Facet program serves as a catalyst for change promoting individual and community empowerment through voter education activities, in support of Links Love HBCUs, a Project 2025 Educational webinar, and in monthly programmatic support of the Super Saturday Umbrella programming model.

International Trends & Services

Acting Globally and Serving Locally

Facet Leadership: Carolyn Grant, Diane Williams

The mission of the International Trends and Services facet is to expand the global platform for programs designed and developed to service the educational, health and cultural needs of people of African descent throughout the world. All programmatic components of the facet are delivered through measurable and sustainable service delivery methods that reach women and their families.

The foremost goal of the International Trends and Services facet is to provide opportunities for tangible service in other countries. 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.

The Fort Worth (TX) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated actively contributes to the organization’s global mission through international service and locally delivered global programming. Most recently, chapter members traveled to Jamaica to participate in The Links’ Education Across the Miles mission, supporting students at Mt. Careh by offering STEM education and donating books and Amazon Kindles to enrich their learning environments. In addition, the International Trends and Services (ITS) Facet strengthens the Umbrella Super Saturday initiative by hosting educational webinars focused on women’s health issues. The chapter also champions local efforts each year by partnering with Girls Incorporated to support the Day of the Girl celebration.

Health and Human Services

Health and Mental Wellness

Facet Leadership: Terryl Kendricks, Demetria Williams

The Links, Incorporated established the Health and Human Services facet in response to the chronic health disparities that persist in our communities and result in the decreased life expectancy of African-Americans. This new facet brings greater focus, resources, and coordination to The Links, Incorporated’s health initiatives already in existence. With the expansion of partnerships with national health agencies, and more definitive structure and support for our health related signature programs, our mission can flourish. 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 optimal utilization of health resources. Community education about health risks is crucial and The Links, Incorporated can play a significant role in providing it.

Locally, the Health and Human Services Facet of the Fort Worth Chapter provides programming in support of the Impact Days that are observed nationally and within Western Area. These health and wellness initiatives include the NAMI Mental Health Walk, the Walk for Healthy Living, Donor Sabbath and the Black Family Wellness Expo. Chapter members also serve each month within the Super Saturday Umbrella model where chapter members provide educational support to community through the promotion of healthier lifestyles.