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Programs and Activities
Links National Programming: The Links Care (TLC)
The Links have organized their programming focus into four primary facets:
· Arts
· National Trends
· International Trends
· Services to Youth
In addition, the following additional program Linkages have been established
· Health and Wellness
· Education
For more information, refer to www.linksinc.org.
Cleveland Chapter Programming
As part of their programming strategic plan adopted in the Spring of 2006, the Cleveland Chapter of The Links, Incorporated established the following goals:
- Identify a partnership with a Cleveland School
- Develop strategies to support the achievement of specific, measurable goals over a 3 year period
- Involve all facets of the organization, utilizing the strengths of the organization’s leadership and community relationships
- Support existing programs of the school through education, collaboration and fund development
- Identify the school and the scope of the Umbrella project in the first year of the plan.
Objectives - Year 1
After careful consideration, the chapter selected Andrew J. Rickoff, a Kindergarten through eighth grade school located in Cleveland’s east side. The new building opened in 2005 and has an enrollment of approximately 600 students. While the school is new, it faced several challenges - low test scores, an economically challenged community and minimal supplies and operating funds. The chapter met with Top Cleveland Municipal School District staff to select the school and the principal and teachers to determine how the chapter could best make a positive and significant impact on the students.
Objectives - Year 2
The Chapter kicked off the school year with a “Linking to Good Health” fair. Children and their family members enjoyed a Saturday morning filled with Health information provided by local agencies, health screenings provided by local doctors and the Cleveland Clinic; entertainment provided by the Cleveland Cavaliers, a bicycle raffle; fun exercise demonstrations and a healthy lunch. That day, the chapter presented a check to the school to purchase accelerated reading book sets.
Later in the year, the chapter enlisted its members, teachers and experts to undertake the planning, designing and execution of 4 quilts that featured the handiwork of the students, who created artwork for each square. In preparation for the project, the students visited a gallery exhibition of a celebrated quilter. After the squares were completed by the children, the local Quilter’s guild stitched them together to form the quilts. The chapter hosted a reception to unveil the quilts to the children and their families at the school at the end of the year and several students gave heartfelt speeches on how the project affected them.
Objectives - Year 3
Over the summer, the chapter started a donation drive to collect school supplies for the students who were unable to purchase them. The chapter presented xx supplies to the school before the first day.
Through a partnership with Key Bank and The Cavaliers, the chapter raised $15,000 for the construction of a computer room for the school. The room is slated for completion in Spring 2008.
With a collaboration with the Cleveland Clinic, the chapter will provide training of CPR to the middle school students and their families in February of 2008.
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