WE ARE COMMITTED TO RAISING UP GLOBAL LEADERS

The world needs credible and competent leaders of character. We know that People of Color, and specifically African Americans in the United States, do not always have the access or opportunities to reach their leadership potential or positively impact their communities for real systemic change. Through our organization, we are creating a new system of world changers. Our Leadership LINKS Network is an intergenerational, multi-ethnic, and ecumenical network of individuals and organizations (including churches, businesses, and schools) that will create long-term partnerships and strategic opportunities for mentorship and sponsorship for the young people who actively participate in programming through our organization.

OUR IMPACT

Our Program and Products Committee annually assess our programs by examining results from Youth LINKS Leaders and our Leadership LINKS Parent Ambassadors (parents whose children have completed two or more programs). Parents frequently commit more than one year in partnership with Leadership LINKS, Inc. for their child(ren) to matriculate through the program because they have found that the mentors and executive leadership provide the best leadership education, spiritual and character development that reflects positively in the growth of their children.

Recent accomplishments include: 

• We have touched countless people through our in-person and virtual leadership and education events like our 2019 summer virtual book discussions which reached more than 5,000 viewers. 

• In addition to our events, we had more than 100 program participants in our programs focused on the leadership development of girls. We continue to see an annual return rate of 80% or more to those attending our programs, with positive assessments from parents about the impact that the organization, our leaders, and our programs have had on their children.   

• Most recently, we are excited about the expansion of our mentoring leadership team and program for young women ages 18-30. In 2022, we more than doubled our team of women mentors which helped to maintain our hybrid program offerings for out-of-state program participants.

While we appreciate the continuous return of prior program participants, we have also seen a significant increase in this year’s new program participants (65%). Overall, the mentoring program has expanded this year, and several of the new participants have come from referrals of other participants.   

We are committed to making long-term investments, and as youth continue to invest in the organization, we increase their leadership challenges and responsibilities. Through our mentoring program, we formally implemented a Youth Leadership Committee (YLC). The youth candidates campaigned, interviewed, and were elected by their peers to serve on the YLC. This committee planned and executed a budget of $1,000 while focusing on three key initiatives: 1. leading a fundraising campaign, 2. organizing a service project, and 3. hosting a youth-led event. The 2020-2021 YLC planned and executed a community service project and delivered COVID-19 prevention supplies to a Title-1 school in High Point, NC. In honor of #GivingTuesday, the YLC organized a Text-to-Give fundraising campaign and exceeded their fundraising goal by raising $4,956 in donations. They also hosted a youth-led bake-off event for the participants enrolled in the mentoring program. The inaugural president of this committee is now a freshman attending the U.S. Naval Academy with aspirations of becoming a U.S. Marine Corps pilot.    

“Featured Stories”

UNLOCK THE LEADER WITHIN with Nilah Williamson

HOW WE PUT DONATIONS TO WORK FOR OUR LINKS LEADERS

Past graduates of the Leadership LINKS Program for Girls are college-bound or presently enrolled with the following colleges and universities.