In May 1964, Mignon B. Johnson organized a group of 11 women from Arlington, Virginia known as the "Missing Links." The Washington, DC Chapter of The Links, Incorporated originally sponsored the "Missing Links."
On November 19, 1966, at the home of Catherine Tate, the 11 “Link Elects” were installed by Link Beatrice Butler (31st Eastern Area Director) and chartered as The Arlington (VA) Chapter, becoming the 31st chapter in the Eastern Area, and the 106th chapter of The Links, Incorporated. The First Officers of the Arlington (VA) Chapter were: Mignon Johnson (President), Pauline Ellison (Vice President), Catherine Tate (Treasurer), Doris Thompson, (Corresponding Secretary), and Eleanor Monroe (Recording Secretary). The other charter members were Elizabeth Hazel, Carrie James, Virginia Moore, Evelyn Syphax, Margarite Syphax, and Mildred Turner.
“An Evening in Monte Carlo” was established as the main signature fundraising event, raising money to support scholarships, community partnership grants, and facet programs. For more than 40 years Monte Carlo has been tremendously successful and is a sustainable fundraiser.
In October 1970 a group of exceptional women in Silver Spring, MD interested in becoming Links were sponsored by the Arlington and Washington, DC Chapters. At the 1972 National Assembly in New Orleans, LA, "The Asterisks" as they were known were voted the 143rd chapter of The Links, Incorporated.
The Arlington (VA) Chapter hosted the 1974 National Assembly where Pauline Allen Ellison was elected 6th National President
Mignon B. Johnson elected 7th Eastern Area Director
Dolly Deselle Adams elected 8th National President. She was a member of the Arlington (VA) when she assumed office.
The Arlington Chapter raised $11,250 for the National Links Building Fund and earned a place on the National Links Honor Roll. The pledges were paid voluntarily before the passage of mandatory assessments at the 25th National Assembly.
Piloted Project LEAD (Links Erase Alcohol and Drugs): High Expectations, with a grant from the Office of Substance Abuse Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services. The goal of Project LEAD was to develop a field-tested, innovative, community-based education outreach program to prevent alcohol and drug abuse, unintended births, and sexually transmitted diseases among youth. Many Arlington chapter members served as workshop facilitators, speakers, and mentors.
UMBRELLA PROJECT "Linking with our Legacy" 1989-1993 and 1994-1996. " The project was focused on instilling the next generation of young African American women with the motivation, self-confidence, and desire to succeed. Link members acted as mentors to the group and provided participants with invaluable first-hand experience and knowledge, enhanced participants' leadership skills, self-esteem, and self-respect; explored various career opportunities, particularly in mathematics, science, and non-traditional fields; encouraged community service; increased sound decision-making and critical thinking skills; introduce young women to fine and performing arts; and enhance participant's knowledge of national and international issues.
Patricia Russell-McCloud elected 11th National President ((inducted in Arlington (VA) Chapter) in 1976)
1st. Place Services To Youth Award at the Eastern Area Conference
2nd. Place Services To Youth Award at the Eastern Area Conference
Received grant from NIH to implement the Heart Truth Campaign
Lula Lang Jeter elected National Treasurer. Previously served as Eastern Area Treasurer from 1999-2003.
Red Dress- The Arlington (VA) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, launched the Heart Truth Program with support from The Links, Incorporated's national partner the American Heart Association (AHA). This community initiative was created to focus on educating women of color in Arlington about heart disease. The program set the stage for the inaugural Arlington Links Red Dress Event that same year on the first Friday in February, National Wear Red Day. The event attracted 50 attendees. The event has expanded into Red Dress Weekend, with other DMV Links chapters participating to promote heart health and raise awareness of heart disease in women. The event now reaches over 150,000 people worldwide with the help of social media. Arlington (VA) Chapter won 1st Place and Best Practice National Awards in 2010 and Eastern Area for the Red Dress Program.
Arlington (VA) Chapter won the First Place National Award and Best Practice Award for the Red Dress Program.
A resolution by the US House of Representatives honored the chapter for forty-five years of community service. With the advent of social media, access and availability of various technologies, and the need to strengthen the visibility of programs and activities, and sustain community out-reach the chapter developed and rolled out a Facebook page, and a website and established an email address for Heart Truth communications in 2010. The chapter received a second-place award for this activity at the Eastern Area Conference in Atlantic City, NJ.
Arlington (VA) Chapter recognized for our Childhood Obesity Program.
Services to Youth: Thomas Jefferson Middle School girls, won 3rd place in the first Lego League Competition in St. Louis, MO.
During our Annual Holiday Party, successfully raised $10,000 to support babies with HIV/Aids in Haiti and provided computers and medical supplies to Jamaica. Additionally, community grants were presented to community partners ranging from $1,000 to $3,500.
Natalie H. Fant elected 16th Eastern Area Director
Kimberly Jeffries Leonard elected 17th National President (previously served as National Vice President and National Recording Secretary)
The International Trends and Services (ITS) Facet makes donations to the Wings of Hope Campaign for the Mission of Grace in Carries, Haiti, helping to feed over 300 vulnerable and orphaned children 2 meals a day for half of a school year. In the words of the Founder of the Mission of Grace, Lynn Joseph, "Thank you for providing for these children; for most of them, the meals in school are the only food they get the entire day. Because of the school meal program, we have less malnutrition in our village and they are able to focus more in school. Again, thank you so much for being the hands of Jesus."
* “Best Practice Award” at the 2020 National Assembly: See, Believe, then Achieve, Girls on the Pathway to STEM.
Received funding and completed the training required to implement a National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) Jr. Program. Chapters were eventually established at Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary School and Jefferson-Houston Pre K-8 IB School when it was safe to do so following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Emerald Anniversary celebrating 55 years of service to the communities of Arlington and Alexandria City.
First place Arts Award “Poster Art Contest” at Practice the National Assembly.
Best Practice Award, Services To Youth at the Eastern Area.
Over $300,000 in scholarships has been awarded to academically successful graduating high school seniors.
