The vision of the National Trends and Services (NTS) facet of The Links, Incorporated is to eliminate disparities by reducing barriers to services through advocacy, education, and service. Our mission is to effectively empower the communities in which we work. To do this, the NTS facet designs community programs that increase awareness of issues that affect the quality of life of African-Americans.

The programs under the National Trends and Services facet serve as a catalyst for change promoting individual and community empowerment. Further, the NTS facet programming addresses the significant economic and social inequalities that significantly affect our communities in the areas of education, income, health, employment, and other social indicators of well-being.

New Orleans (LA) Chapter

National Trends and Services Programming

 

HEALTHY HOMESTEAD

 

 

Healthy Homestead is the Southern Area of the Links, Incorporated programmatic thrust for the National Trends & Services facet. Through this initiative we incorporate community education and fundamental process to prevent the loss of heir property. Black women represent the largest demographic affected by this loss of generational wealth.

 

 

PROJECT L.E.A.D. (Links Erase Alcohol and Drug Abuse)

The title LEAD (Links Erase Alcohol and Drug Abuse) reflects The Links, Incorporated’s effort to reach the most vulnerable populations disproportionately impacted by the current drug epidemic. This national public health emergency is taking an increasingly heavy toll on black communities, and The New Orleans (LA) Chapter of the Links, Incorporated is committed to doing its part to fight drug abuse by increasing the awareness of the consequences of illicit drug use.

Using community forums, didactic lessons, Zoom platform, and other modalities, we are increasing awareness and educating a group of 8^th grade girls at Bethune Elementary Charter School about the dangers of vaping and marijuana use.  Our goal is to provide the girls with resources and increase their capacity to fight and resist conditions that facilitate drug use and addiction.

VOTER REGISTRATION 

 

The Links, Incorporated has encouraged its chapters to engage in a campaign to Educate! Motivate! Advocate! their communities about issues related to voting. The campaign’s focus is to 1) register individuals to vote and 2) to get out the vote on election day – November 2nd. For the 2020 election cycle, The New Orleans (LA) Chapter focused on voter registration at various college campuses and high schools and voter participation and engagement activities throughout the city.

 

 

LINKS DAY AT THE CAPITOL

 

Links Day at the Capitol (LDAC) is an advocacy project of the Southern Area of the Links, Incorporated.  Annually, on one day during the spring legislative session, Links members visit each of the seven state Capitols located in the Southern Area.

Links Day at the Capitol presents a unique opportunity for members of our 79 chapters located in the Southern Area, working through their state LDAC committees, to bring to the attention of state legislators and other state public officials the legislative and public policy issues of critical importance to the Southern Area and to our national organization.

Link members serve in several of our State Legislatures and they are happy to work with our LDAC teams in establishing our legislative schedules, “demystifying” the legislative process and building relationships with key members of the leadership, policy committees and in general making our visits extremely productive.

Through Links Day at the Capitol, the Southern Area extends and expands influence in creating relevant, effective public policy.

 

LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST

Annually, The New Orleans (LA) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, in partnership with the Pontchartrain Chapter of The Links, Incorporated and the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Greater New Orleans Chapter, hosts a legislative breakfast prior to the beginning of the legislative session.

State legislators and Councilmembers from the New Orleans area are invited to participate in a discussion about education, health and economic development.

 

NATIONAL LAW DAY

The Rule of Law is the bedrock of American rights and liberties—in times of calm and unrest alike. The 2021 Law Day theme—Advancing the Rule of Law, Now—reminds all of us that we the people share the responsibility to promote the rule of law, defend liberty, and pursue justice.

Because of the global pandemic, the 2021 Law Day will be live streamed. However, in past years, The New Orleans (LA) Chapter of the Links, Incorporated annually invited grade school students to participate in the reenactment of a high profile case relating to the year’s Law Day theme. The event has been held at Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans in New Orleans and the Juvenile Justice Center in New Orleans. Participating students became the judge, jury, attorneys and litigants in the case and, from a unique perspective, develop a better understanding of legal concepts and fundamental rights inherent in our justice system.