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The Links
The Links is an American social and service organization of prominent black women. It was founded in 1946 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As of 2025, it has 299 chapters and more than 17,000 members in the United States and other countries. Its members include Kamala Harris, Marian Wright Edelman, and Betty Shabazz.
The Links, Incorporated, a nonprofit corporation, originated in 1946 in Philadelphia when founders Sarah Strickland Scott and Margaret Roselle Hawkins saw the need for a new kind of inner-city women's organization. They recruited the other founding members: Frances Atkinson, Katie Green, Marion Minton, Lillian Stanford, Myrtle Manigault Stratton, Lillian Wall, and Dorothy Wright.
All of the founding members were members of prominent black professional families of Philadelphia; six were the wives of physicians and the seventh the wife of a bank president. All had bachelor's or master's degrees from elite universities, and had been active in other Black social organizations. Most were members of St. Thomas Episcopal Church.
Chapters were established in Atlantic City, New Jersey; Baltimore Maryland; Central New Jersey; Petersburg, Virginia; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Raleigh, North Carolina; Rocky Mount, North Carolina; St. Louis, Missouri; Tarboro, North Carolina; Wilmington, Delaware; and Wilson, North Carolina. Delegates from these chapters meet for a national assembly on November 9, 1946 and officially established The Links. Hawkins served as its first president.
After the national assembly, members began contacting women in other cities to establish new chapters. The organization was incorporated on March 28, 1951. By 1952, it had 56 chapters. The organization was involved in the Civil Rights movement and supported the work of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). In 1958, The Links expanded its efforts to support youth services.
Later changes included supporting education and health in of both African Americans Africans. The group made its largest single donation in 1974— $132,000, to the United Negro College Fund to support historically Black colleges and universities.
Over the decades, the group transformed itself from "a group of women married to influential men, to a group of women who became influential themselves", according to one member. The evolution caused "clear conflict between the old guard and the new guard", according to another. In 2008, there were approximately 12,000 members of 273 chapters of The Links in 42 states. By 2022, The Links had grown to 16,000 members and 292 chapters in the United States, The Bahamas, and the United Kingdom. The Links Foundation, Inc. is its separate philanthropic organization.
The group's name was suggested by founding member Lillian Wall as a symbol of enduring friendship. The Links' core values or pillars are friendship, integrity, honesty, service, commitment, family relationships, courage, respect for self and others, legacy, confidentiality, responsibility, and accountability. Its emblem is a globe of the world, encircled by a chain. Its colors are emerald green and white. Its flower is the white rose.
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The Links
The Links is an American social and service organization of prominent black women. It was founded in 1946 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As of 2025, it has 299 chapters and more than 17,000 members in the United States and other countries. Its members include Kamala Harris, Marian Wright Edelman, and Betty Shabazz.
The Links, Incorporated, a nonprofit corporation, originated in 1946 in Philadelphia when founders Sarah Strickland Scott and Margaret Roselle Hawkins saw the need for a new kind of inner-city women's organization. They recruited the other founding members: Frances Atkinson, Katie Green, Marion Minton, Lillian Stanford, Myrtle Manigault Stratton, Lillian Wall, and Dorothy Wright.
All of the founding members were members of prominent black professional families of Philadelphia; six were the wives of physicians and the seventh the wife of a bank president. All had bachelor's or master's degrees from elite universities, and had been active in other Black social organizations. Most were members of St. Thomas Episcopal Church.
Chapters were established in Atlantic City, New Jersey; Baltimore Maryland; Central New Jersey; Petersburg, Virginia; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Raleigh, North Carolina; Rocky Mount, North Carolina; St. Louis, Missouri; Tarboro, North Carolina; Wilmington, Delaware; and Wilson, North Carolina. Delegates from these chapters meet for a national assembly on November 9, 1946 and officially established The Links. Hawkins served as its first president.
After the national assembly, members began contacting women in other cities to establish new chapters. The organization was incorporated on March 28, 1951. By 1952, it had 56 chapters. The organization was involved in the Civil Rights movement and supported the work of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). In 1958, The Links expanded its efforts to support youth services.
Later changes included supporting education and health in of both African Americans Africans. The group made its largest single donation in 1974— $132,000, to the United Negro College Fund to support historically Black colleges and universities.
Over the decades, the group transformed itself from "a group of women married to influential men, to a group of women who became influential themselves", according to one member. The evolution caused "clear conflict between the old guard and the new guard", according to another. In 2008, there were approximately 12,000 members of 273 chapters of The Links in 42 states. By 2022, The Links had grown to 16,000 members and 292 chapters in the United States, The Bahamas, and the United Kingdom. The Links Foundation, Inc. is its separate philanthropic organization.
The group's name was suggested by founding member Lillian Wall as a symbol of enduring friendship. The Links' core values or pillars are friendship, integrity, honesty, service, commitment, family relationships, courage, respect for self and others, legacy, confidentiality, responsibility, and accountability. Its emblem is a globe of the world, encircled by a chain. Its colors are emerald green and white. Its flower is the white rose.