Welcome

Message From Our Chapter President

Welcome to the Lansing/East Lansing Links webpage. Whatever brings you to our page, we are glad you are here. 

As one of the Nation’s oldest and largest volunteer service organizations, The Links, Incorporated has a proud history of service, not only in our own community but communities throughout the nation. We are a not for profit, international organization. It was in 1946 that the Links originated when Margaret Rosell Hawkins and Sarah Strickland Scott, co-founded The Links, Incorporated.  They were two friends from Philadelphia who envisioned a new type of inner-city club focused on enriching, sustaining and ensuring the culture and economic survival of African Americans and other persons of African ancestry.

Today, our collective membership strength includes nearly, 16,000 professional women of color in over 288 chapters, 41 states, the District of Columbia and the Bahamas.  Our core values are friendship, integrity, honesty, service, commitment, family relationships, courage, respect for self and others, legacy, confidentiality, responsibility and accountability. These values are as much a part of our work today as they were in 1946.  

Chartered on October 28, 1972, the Lansing/East Lansing Links (MI) Chapter has worked to empower the people who live in our community while advancing our organization’s five National Facets: Health and Human Services, National Trends and Services, International Trends and Services, Services to Youth and The Arts. 

This year, in recognition of the service of our founding Links we have embarked upon an ambitious goal of creating the Link-Learn-Lead Institute.  

This year long Institute provides an opportunity for Links to lift up young African American, female high school juniors with new experiences which will involve the arts, entrepreneurship, personal finance, civic responsibility, career and life skills. The young women who successfully complete the program will be awarded a Link scholarship.  We couldn’t be more excited about the work we are doing and the opportunity to use our vast knowledge, experience, and love to pour into the next generation of African American women leaders. 

These young women will also have the opportunity to participate in our signature program, the annual “White Rose Gala” where we present two ATHENA Awards. 

We haven’t been on this 48-year journey alone. The late Link, Dr. Eva L. Evans one of our Chapter’s founding members and Jack Davis, a prominent attorney and philanthropist, were long time supporters of our programs. Our hearts are extremely appreciative for them and for everyone who has sponsored, donated or assisted in the success of our programming. Please continue that support.  Your support is needed today more than ever as young people of color face a multitude of challenges. 

We are stronger together and as a Chapter consisting of dozens of professional, well-educated, successful African American women, we look forward to helping the next generation of young people, Link Learn Lead. I hope you will join us.

Linked in Friendship and Service,

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Paula D. Cunningham

President

10th Annual  

White Rose Gala

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