From the beginning, Linkdom has addressed its community service concerns in the area of educational, cultural, and civic commitment. In 1958, only twelve years after the founding of the organization, the National body adopted the program facet, Services To Youth. The objective of this program facet was to aid minority youth in America to find and fulfill their intellectual potential. Thousands of youth benefited from this program facet.

In the year 1964, The Links National Assembly embraced a second facet, The Arts. This program was launched around the theme of “Freedom and The Fine Arts.” Also at the 1964 National Assembly, the program facet, National Trends And Services was adopted. This facet was extended to include recognition of the international thrust.

Later in 1970, the program facet, International Trends And Services was separated from National Trends and was established as an Ad Hoc Committee. It gained full status as a program facet in 1978.

In 1975, Links joined the Celebration of International Women’s Year and were represented in the International Women’s Decade Conference. This involvement continues as an Ad Hoc Committee under International Trends and Services. For many years, Links programming was, for the most part, locked into separate program facets: namely, The Arts, National Trends and Services, International Trends and Services, Services to Youth. Good work, even great work, was accomplished in this mold. However, it was obvious that The Links chapters and Links nationally would benefit from concerted program thrusts where all facets were integrated in central programming with a major focus. This central focus programming concept is now generally known as “umbrella programming.”

Areas and chapters embrace programs that combine the effective coordination of all five facets into a “full umbrella program.” Such programming must relate to our purpose and thus embody the 1996 – 1998 National Links Theme: “Linkages . . . Toward The Possible.”

Monica Brinkley Davis – Program Coordinator, Chair of Programs for Facet Committee
Click on the facet title for more information: