Black Track: March 17, 2023

Women’s History Month: The Links, Incorporated

Celebrate women!

Women’s History month is celebrating the contributions of women in society. In 1978 the first celebration of Women’s History Week began, and it soon turned into Women’s History Month. (1) Too often African American women have been left out of that celebration and recognition of Women’s History Month. This year the National Women’s History Alliance who spearheaded March being declared as National Women’s History Month, and have declared this year as “Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories.” (2)

In this issue of the Black Track, we are celebrating The Links, Incorporated (“The Links”), and the Albuquerque branch of The Links.

Established years before the acknowledgement of Women’s History month our African American women were serving the community. In 1946 The Links, began. (3) This is an international, not-for-profit corporation that is committed to enriching, sustaining, and ensuring the culture and economic survival of African Americans. (3) The Links are the largest and oldest volunteer organization and have more than 17,000 professional women of African descent. (3)

The Links organization annually document over one million hours of community service. Their core values are friendship, integrity, honesty, service, commitment, family relationships, courage, respect for self and others, legacy, confidentiality, responsibility, and accountability. (3) The Mission is friends transforming communities through service and the Vision is enrich communities and improve the quality of life for people of African descent through friendship and service. (3)

The Links service includes five programs to meet the needs of the African American community, Health and Human Services, International Trends and Services, National Trends and Services, The Arts and Services to Youth. (3) Our office wants to celebrate the African American women in 299 chapters located in 41 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, the United Kingdom, and especially those women established right here in Albuquerque, New Mexico for serving our community!

The Albuquerque Chapter of The Links, Incorporated is a true embodiment of transforming communities through service. Throughout the years the Albuquerque Chapter has hosted many events that are continuing to enrich our community. As an example, this Saturday, March 18th , there will be a “Black Family Wellness Expo” hosted by the Albuquerque Chapter of The Links. The Black Family Wellness Expo is a health event with dental screenings, blood pressure screening and more. If you’re interested in learning more about what the Albuquerque chapter is doing, please reach out through their Facebook.

Thank you, Albuquerque Chapter of The Links, Incorporated for serving the community even when no one is looking. Thank you for continuing to advance in your individual professions and being intentional with friendship and service in the community.

In conclusion, celebrating Women’s History month is not a one week or one month commitment that African American women serve the community, it is an everyday commitment, so let us not wait for Women’s History month or Mother’s Day to celebrate and highlight African American women doing amazing things for our people.