Our legacy, our community

Service

 Since its earliest days, The Links, Incorporated has championed the arts as a powerful vehicle for cultural expression, education, and community transformation—formally recognizing The Arts as one of its five program facets in 1964 at the 14th National Assembly. The goal of The Arts facet is to increase and expand artistic activity, elevate chapter programming through arts integration, and ignite an arts renaissance throughout our organization and communities. Nationally, chapters support this vision through dynamic partnerships with galleries, museums, art councils, and educational and corporate entities—particularly those uplifting artists of color. The West Towns (IL) Chapter faithfully follows national and regional guidance, wholeheartedly endorsing The Arts facet through diverse, culturally rich programs that educate and inspire minority youth. Through our partnership with Lincoln Elementary School in Bellwood, West Towns advances the national goal of ensuring students have meaningful opportunities to engage in culturally enriching experiences across multiple artistic disciplines. From hosting our National Poster Arts Competition for students in grades K–2 to providing immersive cultural experiences at museums and beyond, West Towns (IL) Chapter continues to open doors for young minds to explore, create, and thrive through the transformative power of the arts.

 The National Trends and Services facet boldly confronts the social inequities that continue to impact Black communities across the United States, advancing solutions rooted in advocacy, awareness, and action. Through The Links, Incorporated, we remain steadfast in raising consciousness around economic instability, health disparities, social justice reform, and the systemic barriers that influence our collective quality of life. Our mission is clear — to eliminate disparities and create pathways toward equity, opportunity, and sustained community empowerment. The West Towns (IL) Chapter brings this commitment to life through innovative initiatives such as SHEORES, a program honoring and supporting women veterans for their service and sacrifice. In partnership with Services to Youth, we extend our impact through Blessings in a Backpack at Lincoln Elementary School, providing hunger-free weekend packages to students in the Links C.A.R.E. Program so they can return to school nourished and ready to learn. Additionally, in collaboration with the Legislative Affairs Committee, we champion civic engagement by hosting voter registration drives at Proviso West High School and presenting dynamic speaker series featuring leaders from the Cook County Clerk’s Office to local school boards — ensuring our communities are informed, empowered, and heard.

The International Trends and Services facet provides impactful service and delivers transformational programs to people of African ancestry across the globe, expanding access and opportunity for a better quality of life. Through thoughtfully designed initiatives that address educational, health, and cultural needs, we stand in solidarity with our global community to ensure no child or family is left behind. The West Towns (IL) Chapter has partnered as volunteers with Feed My Starving Children, a non-profit Christian organization in Aurora, Illinois, helping package and distribute life-saving meals to children in nearly 70 countries. Extending our reach even further, we have collaborated with schools in Africa to provide essential school materials and personal hygiene supplies that support both learning and dignity. Currently, through our Education Across the Miles signature program, we are aligned with the Blooming Lily Foundation, which supports transformative programs in Kenya — including Onsando Girls School and the Kendu Kids Klub for HIV-positive orphaned children — as well as initiatives in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana. Serving communities where extreme poverty limits opportunity, West Towns (IL) Chapter has proudly impacted more than 250 students, helping them bloom beyond circumstance and step confidently into their future.

 The Health and Human Services facet of The Links, Incorporated was established to confront the chronic health disparities that continue to impact Black communities and shorten the life expectancy of African Americans and people of African ancestry. Dedicated to promoting and facilitating programs that support the maintenance of good health, the West Towns (IL) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated advances this mission with compassion, advocacy, and action. Through the National Mental Health Initiatives, the chapter hosted a powerful workshop for adolescent girls at the “It’s Just Us Girls Health and Wellness Conference” at Benedictine University in November 2015, where an expert led an impactful session entitled “Emotional Rollercoaster” to help eliminate stigma and strengthen emotional awareness among girls ages 10–17, including those at risk or involved in the juvenile justice system. Addressing the National HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C Initiatives, the chapter also presented “HIV/AIDS: Safety First,” equipping young women with lifesaving knowledge and empowering them to make informed decisions. In support of the National Oral Health Initiative, Health and Human Services distributed 450 Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures toothbrush kits—complete with oral health education materials—to students at Lincoln School, ensuring brighter smiles and healthier futures. From hosting Youth Mental Health First Aid Training to organizing the transformative Black Family Wellness Expo, West Towns continues to champion holistic wellness—strengthening minds, bodies, and communities for generations to come.

Transformational impact is never accomplished by a single chapter working alone; at the West Towns (IL) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, every program is strengthened through the power of purposeful partnership. Our work is amplified through collaborations with national organizations such as Colgate-Palmolive, AARP, NAACP, American Heart Association, and hand2mind, whose shared commitment to equity and wellness fuels our mission. Equally vital are our local community partners — Lincoln Elementary School, Blessings in a Backpack, Young, Black & Lit, and National Louis University — who stand beside us in building impactful programs like Links C.A.R.E. Through these collaborations, we are able to deepen literacy efforts, promote health and wellness, combat food insecurity, and expand culturally responsive learning opportunities for youth and families. Partnerships increase our capacity, extend our reach, and provide the critical resources necessary to serve with excellence and intention. Together, we link arms with organizations that share our vision, transforming collective goodwill into measurable, lasting change throughout the communities we proudly serve. View below our partnerships.

The West Towns (IL) Chapter proudly invests in the future of our community by supporting local students through our impactful scholarship program. Each year, graduating seniors are given the opportunity to apply for financial assistance to help offset the cost of tuition, course books, and other college-related expenses; ensuring that financial need does not hinder academic dreams. Our scholarship recipients attend institutions ranging from local community colleges and universities to prestigious out-of-state campuses, and we are especially proud to acknowledge and celebrate students matriculating at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), where legacy, excellence, and cultural affirmation thrive. In addition, we extend scholarship support to participants of the NAACP ACT-SO Program—The Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics—a year-round achievement program designed to recruit, stimulate, and encourage high academic and cultural excellence among African American high school students. Through this commitment to higher education, we not only recognize achievement but actively empower the next generation of leaders, innovators, and change-makers. In the last four years alone, West Towns has awarded more than $20,000 in scholarships, demonstrating our unwavering dedication to educational access, opportunity, and advancement.