The Southern Area of The Links, Incorporated came into existence on Easter Monday, April 19, 1948 at 1:00 p.m. when the sixth club, Rocky Mount-Wilson-Tarboro, was chartered.  The establishment of this group came after more than a year of intense planning and activity by founders Sarah Strickland Scott and Margaret Roselle Hawkins.  Julia Delaney discussed this with her daughter, Nan Delaney (Hines) Johnson, who lived in Wilson, North Carolina.  Nan felt that eastern North Carolina was an ideal place to extend the chain of friendship.  The birth of the Southern Area was soon underway with a small circle of friends.  The Southern Area chain of friendship has grown enormously over the years.

The true spirit of friendship and service is very apparent in the programming efforts and initiatives sponsored by the chapters in the Southern Area.  It now fulfills its mission through the efforts of 74 chapters and 2500+ members located in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, the Bahamas, and South Africa.  The Southern Area is proud to have had four International Presidents, including our own Julia Brogdon Purnell, to lead our great organization. 

Our Louisiana chapters include:

• Alexandria
• Baton Rouge
• Crescent City (New Orleans)
• La Capitale (Baton Rouge)
• Monroe-Grambling
• New Orleans
• Pontchartrain (New Orleans)
• Shreveport
  

Chartered on November 28, 1964, the Baton Rouge Chapter of The Links, Incorporated was installed by Vivian Beamon, Fourth National President.  Charter members are:  V. Jean Butler, Lene R. Cooper (deceased), Bessie W. Holland (deceased), Marjorie D. Lawless (deceased), Thelma S. Perkins, Julia Brogdon Purnell, Allene K. Rayford (deceased), Jewell T. Thompson, Eva C. Williams and Dorothea Yates.

In addition to earning national and area program awards, members of the Baton Rouge Chapter has served as national officers:  Julia Brogdon Purnell-Seventh National President, Jewell T. Thompson and Frances Marsh Ellis-National Arts Directors, and Thelma S. Perkins-National Public Information Officer.  National committee appointments have included:  Thelma C. Cobb-National Constitution and Bylaws; Eula M. Masingale-National Services to Youth Committee; Allene K. Rayford-Links Foundation; Exyie C. Ryder, National Constitution and Bylaws Committee.  On the Area level, Exyie C. Ryder previously served as Area Parliamentarian and Area Services to Youth Director.  Billie D. Cunningham served as Area Ethics & Standards Chair.  The Baton Rouge Chapter has also impacted the national organization's history by sponsoring the National Assembly in 1972 in New Orleans with only ten members.  The first White Rose Banquet was initiated by the Baton Rouge Chapter during that Assembly.

The Baton Rouge Chapter pledges its expertise to foster partnerships with local, regional and national agencies that can provide opportunities for community development through monitored programs.  The organizational objectives promote:

• Eliminating disparities to reduce barriers to services through leadership, education, and service
• Providing a range of innovative, substantive and sustainable Pre-K-16 programming which contributes proven results to key educational or social/community issues
• Expanding the global platform for programs designed and developed to service the educational, health and cultural needs of people of African descent throughout the world
• Supporting the performing and visual arts, especially where it focused on the presentation of artists of color
• Collaborating with organizations with comparable goals and objectives to better leverage resources

Download our
Chapter Brochure (pdf)The Links, Incorporated is an international, not-for-profit corporation, established in 1946. The membership consists of 12,000 professional women of color in 274 chapters located in 42 states, the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. It is one of the nation’s oldest and largest volunteer service organizations of extraordinary women who are committed to enriching, sustaining and ensuring the culture and economic survival of African Americans and other persons of African ancestry.

The members of The Links, Incorporated are influential decision makers and opinion leaders. The Links, Inc. has attracted many distinguished women who are individual achievers and have made a difference in their communities and the world. They are business and civic leaders, role models, mentors, activists and volunteers who work towards a common vision by engaging like-minded organizations and individuals for partnership. Links members contribute more than 500,000 documented hours of community service annually – strengthening their communities and enhancing the nation. The organization is the recipient of awards from the UN Association of New York and the Leon H. Sullivan Foundation for its premier programs.

The outstanding programming of The Links, Incorporated has five facets which include National Trends and Services, The Arts, Services to Youth, International Trends and Services and Health and Human Services. The programs are implemented through strategies such as public information and education, economic development, and public policy campaigns.

Serving Baton Rouge, Louisiana for the past 45 years, the Baton Rouge Chapter of The Links, Incorporated has remained committed to our mission and vision.

Our Mission

The Baton Rouge Chapter of The Links, Incorporated will enrich the lives and well-being of families in the Baton Rouge community.

Our Vision

To be a positive catalyst for the enhancement of academic achievement and health and wellness through innovative educational and awareness activities supported by all facets and directed at the entire family unit.