Tuskegee (AL) Chapter History
On January 4, 1962, twenty-two influential decision makers and outstanding leaders in the Tuskegee community convened to form the Eight O’ Clocks, the initial step in becoming a chapter of The Links, Incorporated. The officers were Huldah Owen, President; Corinne Steele, Vice President; Emma Walker, Secretary, and Ada Peters, Treasurer and Liaison Officer. The sponsoring chapter was the Montgomery, AL, Chapter. On December 1, 1962, Link Norvaleate Downing, National Corresponding Secretary, installed twenty-three women as members of The Tuskegee Chapter of The Links, Incorporated. Charter members were Mattie Boddie, Nita Busby, Hortense Calhoun, Beulah Cooper, Cecile Dawson, Helen Dibble, Orie Mae Flood, Vera Foster, Lillian Harvey, Ruth Hume, Lois Mason, Vivian Mitchell, Elizabeth Munday, Huldah Owen, Ada Peters, Queen Shootes, Eleanor Smith, Corinne Steele, Louise Trigg, Emma Walker, Harriette Webb, Margaret Welch and Clara Williams.
Services to Youth. The Services to Youth Facet initiated an Umbrella Signature Safe Haven Program which served youth in an afterschool program. Weekly sessions were conducted by each facet including creating a healthy living garden in partnership with Lowes. Our commitment and partnership with Tuskegee University has been consistent for nearly six decades, embracing the Southern Area’s HBCU Initiative through the execution of programs, donating to The Annual President Essay Scholarship, and awarding two Southern Area Class Act scholarships for $250 to deserving students attending Tuskegee University. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the chapter adopted the TU Tiger Den Food Pantry and donated items to assist students remaining on campus and donated $1000.00 to the Tuskegee University Student Emergency Fund to assist students with unexpected expenses caused by the pandemic.
The Arts. The Arts Facet led the participation of Macon County elementary schools in the Project Walking Fete: Make Health a Habit…Stepping Out Poster Art Contest and received National Program Best Practice Recognition in 2007 at the National Convention. The Arts Facet sponsored an Art Show at the Tuskegee University Chapel. The Arts Facet continued its focus on bringing the arts to the community for all ages by celebrating local artists. “Celebrating The Arts” was one such program. The Arts Facet was recognized at the National Convention with an Excellence in Programming Award for the Sharing Our World Poster Contest and Calendar featuring visual art created by local elementary school participants.
National Trends and Services. National Trends established a Health Room at BTW High School and integrated Health, Wellness and Literacy into the annual Walk-A-Thon Day with our local public library by reading to the participants as a culminating highlight. National Trends forged several partnerships to serve our local including Ally Bank, Macon County Community Development Corporation and the local AARP to hold workshops on Healthy Homestead and Property Taxes and Money Matters; National Trends and Services Facet led the way on integrating the National Walk-A-Thon initiative, and a local Town Hall Brown Bag Health and Wellness lunch series with topics of importance such as mammograms.
International Trends and Services. The international students at Tuskegee University were provided a Resource Guide and entertained at an International Gala through the International Trends Facet. International Trends through selfless love participated in the Bahamas One Love & HUGS. Members of the chapter have also participated in the Education Across the Miles Signature program, where they volunteered at several Jamaica several primary schools. Programming has also included chapter participation in the Links International Foreign Affairs and Business Empowerment for Youth (LIFE) program which exposes local high school students to career possibilities in foreign affairs and international business in an effort to close the race and gender divide in corporate and governmental jobs, and foreign service appointments and partnering with Tuskegee University to implement a program curriculum that includes site visits, guest speakers, webcasts and case studies on business and foreign service. Tuskegee (AL) Chapter Links are also particularly proud of their work in creating and providing quilts to the female students at The University of the Bahamas.
Health and Human Services. Our partnerships continued with the Tuskegee Area Diabetes Support Group regarding nutrition with Tuskegee University students enrolled in Restaurant Operations Management; Health Fairs with Tuskegee University Nursing students to provide blood pressure checks and “Links in Pink” Initiative to bring Breast Cancer Awareness on the City Square to Tuskegee residents. A health fair coordinated by the Health and Human Services Committee while students enrolled in the Restaurant Operations Management course made a presentation to the Tuskegee Area Diabetes Support Group regarding comfort foods revisited. Link sisters offered recipes that were converted to include healthier options – low salt, lower sugar and reduced fat in support of the presentation.
