The Bakersfield Chapter of The Links, Incorporated and the International Trends & Services Facet Celebrates International Women’s Day
On March 4, 2023, the International Trends and Services Facet gave a presentation during the March Chapter meeting explaining that International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The presentation also included a call to action for accelerating women’s equality by helping school aged girls in Kenya with school fees. The 2023 International Women’s Day campaign theme is #EmbraceEquity.
On March 4, 2023, the International Trends and Services Facet gave a presentation during the March Chapter meeting explaining that International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The presentation also included a call to action for accelerating women’s equality by helping school aged girls in Kenya with school fees. The 2023 International Women’s Day campaign theme is #EmbraceEquity.
The Facet invited a representative from the Deborah Amoi Foundation to speak about their work in providing scholarships to girls in Kenya on a need’s basis for secondary school. The scholarship is merit-based and awarded to girls using equitable criteria. Impoverished and/or orphaned 8th graders who have been accepted to high school but lack school fees are selected. The boys must have 350 points and above and the girls 330 points or more on their Kenya National Examination Council examination. This is a national compulsory exit exam for all students. Students must also maintain a minimum grade of C+ to continue with funding. The mission of the Deborah Amoi Foundation is to increase access to secondary education for children in extreme poverty through merit-based scholarships. Chapter members collected donations to sponsor a scholarship for a female student through the DAF program.
The International Trends Facet culminated the International Women’s Day activities on March 8, 2023, at ZAMA Latin American Cuisine by hosting the chapter’s Fifth Annual International Women’s Day Dinner. The dinner was organized by International Trends and Services Facet member Olivia Washington. Chapter Members made a total contribution of $1000.00 to sponsor two female scholarships through the Deborah Amoi Foundation which was presented at the dinner. The check presentation was made by President Zadie Hurd and Chair, Christi Dugas-Cramer
Background:
During its history, the Bakersfield Links Chapter has implemented and provided the following programs:
· • The Links’ Leadership STEAM Academy Left Brain Right Brain Program
· • National Poster Arts Contest Winners from McKinley Elementary, School South High School and Siebert Elementary this year!
· • Adopted the Pinkney House at Kern County Museum
· • Human Trafficking Bakersfield
· • Can You Imagine Me-Childhood Obesity Program at McKinley Elementary School
· • Health and Wellness Conferences
· • Project LEAD: High Expectations
· • Introduced DARE to Kern County
· • Mental Health , and Hepatitis C Programs
· • Cyberbullying Programs
· • Hope for Haiti
· • HIV/AIDS
· • Collaborated with other Link Chapters to Build Schools in South Africa (MORE)
· • Housing Conference sponsored by HUD which resulted the building of St. John Manor
· • Energy Conference
· • Youth Enrichment Assemblies
· • Boxes to Bagdad
History of Bakersfield Chapter, The Links, Incorporated:
The Bakersfield Chapter was established on June 11, 1977, at The Rio Bravo Tennis Club in Bakersfield, California. The three visionary and esteemed ladies who organized the Bakersfield Chapter were Willye Pearl Collier, Evangeline Myles (both deceased) and Educator, Alma Lee Nealy, who still resides in Bakersfield, CA. The Chapter was sponsored by Mrs. Alice Harvey, Los Angeles Chapter and Mrs. Evangeline Myles, Greater Kansas City Chapter. The Chapter was installed by Ms. Ann Julian, National Establishment Officer and Mrs. Julia Smith, Western Area Director.
In Kern County, The Bakersfield Chapter of The Links represents Twenty- seven outstanding women, including our six stellar Platinum and three alumnae members, all who have a committed track record of community service.
The Bakersfield Chapter has provided exemplary community service in its forty-six-year history. Our current Signature Program is “The Links’ Leadership STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) Academy”.
About The Links Incorporated:
The Links, Incorporated is an international, not-for-profit corporation, established in 1946. The membership consists of more than 17,000 professional women in 299 chapters located in forty-one states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, and the United Kingdom. It is one of the nation’s oldest and largest volunteer service organizations of extraordinary women. The core values are friendship, integrity, honesty, service, commitment, family relationships, courage, respect for self and others, legacy, confidentiality, responsibility, and accountability. The members of The Links, Incorporated are influential decision makers and opinion leaders. The Links, Incorporated has attracted many distinguished women who are individual achievers and have had influence in their communities and the world. They are business and civic leaders, role models, mentors, activists, and volunteers who work toward a common vision by engaging like-minded
organizations and individuals for partnership. Links members contribute more than one million documented hours of community service annually – strengthening their communities and enhancing the nation. Members are added to the Links Incorporated with an honorable invite only.
THE LINKS FOUNDATION, INCORPORATED is the philanthropic arm of The Links, Incorporated, has made more than $24 million in charitable contributions since its founding. Working closely with its sponsors and supporters, The Links, Incorporated focuses on creating transformational programming and impacting lives in communities of color through Services to Youth, The Arts, National Trends and Services, International Trends and Services, and Health and Human , to improve the quality of life for individuals, families, and communities.
