AREA & NATIONAL LEADERSHIP

Link Debra Lazare, Southern Area Technology Chair
Charlotte Henderson, Southern Area Financial Secretary, National Awards Committee

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LINKS KIDS BOOT CAMP AT EXXONMOBIL YMCA (2011)

With an estimated 70% of low income African American youth with low or no swimming ability and more than 47% of Louisiana children ages 2-19 who are overweight or obese, the Baton Rouge Chapter aimed to directly address these concerns and offer a potentially life-saving opportunity to youth.  This effort was accomplished through collaboration with the ExxonMobil YMCA in which the Baton Rouge Chapter donated over $11,000 to fund scholarships for youth to attend The Links Kids Boot Camp.

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As a result of the Links Kids Boot Camp over 140 youth participated in swimming lessons, learned the basics of strength and cardiovascular conditioning, and learned about nutrition and healthy lifestyles.

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YMCA LINKS KIDS ZONE

In 2012, the Links pledged $25,000 to the ExxonMobil YMCA sponsoring the Links Kids Zone, a multi-purpose room at the facility.  This effort continues the partnership forged with the ExxonMobil YMCA and our joint goals of helping to serve under privileged youth in the north Baton Rouge community.

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THE VOLUNTEERS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS (VIPS) GOLDEN APPLE AWARD

The Baton Rouge Chapter of the Links Inc. won the 2009 Golden Apple Award from Volunteers in Public Schools (VIPS) for our work at Capitol Elementary School. The chapter provided assistance to the families of Capitol Elementary with the following activities during that academic year: Rosebuds, Family Literacy Night, Body Walk, Brotherhood/ Sisterhood, Read Across America and 2008-2009 Spelling Bee. The Capitol Elementary community of students, parents, faculty and staff can vouch that our efforts made a meaningful impact on the children we served.

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CHILDHOOD OBESITY INITIATIVE

The Baton Rouge Chapter and La Capitale Chapter of The Links, Incorporated have teamed up with Mayor Kip Holden’s Healthy BR Initiative in an effort to focus attention on solving the problem of childhood obesity.

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Obesity Prevention Program

During the 2010—2011 school year, the Baton Rouge Chapter implemented the Southern Area Obesity Prevention Program.  Each month, Rosebud Club members participated in healthy lifestyle educational sessions and activities.

• Session I—Building Better Bodies

• Session II —Making Wise Choices

• Session III—Selecting Nutrient Rich Foods

• Session IV—Physical Activity

• Session V—Healthy Meals: Planning, Shopping and Preparation

• Session VI—Celebrating Your Healthier Family

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Rosebud Club

The Rosebud Club is a youth mentoring initiative which aims to address various health, educational, and social needs of young girls.  Beginning in third grade, these girls receive focused support and caring interaction with chapter members on a regular basis.

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LINKS INTERNATIONAL FOREIGN AFFAIRS & BUSINESS EMPOWERMENT FOR YOUTH

The LIFE program, implemented by The Baton Rouge Chapter in 2009, is designed to attract and recruit minority high school students, grades 10 and 11, ages 15 -17, interested in pursuing college degrees.

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The goal is to create a future job pool of young minority students focused on careers in international business and foreign services.  The objective is to fill a major void in minority representation in the international business arena and Foreign Service appointments.  The program aims to equip, encourage, prepare, and expose students to international career opportunities and provide them with a strong mentor base as well as learning and service activities throughout the year.

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ARTS FACET INITIATIVES

The Arts facet partnered with The Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge to support the Debbie Allen production All The Right Moves and allow youth in the Baton Rouge community and girls in our Rosebuds program to attend the performances.

The Arts facet has also:

• treated 200 students from all three local schools to a day at the theatre by sponsoring their attendance at Debbie Allen plays “Dreams” and “Brothers of the Knight”.

• partnered with Playmakers, Louisiana’s only professional theatre dedicated to bringing quality live theatrical productions to young audiences. The students enjoy performances each year and are encouraged to audition to perform in the plays and assist in production.

• collaborated with Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge to provide an educational concert by Jazz musician and Grammy nominee Patti Austin, Carla Cook and Wess Montgomery. Students were given a lesson on music genres with special emphasis on African and Jazz. A lively and interactive concert with hands-on participation kept the students engaged.  Post-performance assessment indicated that greater appreciation for a wider variety of music was achieved.

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ILLUMINATION AWARD (2012)

The Baton Rouge Chapter won The Illumination Award at the 2012 Solaris Awards Program sponsored by Family Road of Greater Baton Rouge.  We won for our Childhood Obesity Project featuring our work with the Rosebuds and the boot camp and Kidzone at the ExxonMobil YMCA. The Illumination Award is presented to a program which has demonstrated excellence in the development and implementation of social services programs for children.