​Throughout the month of April 2021, organizations across the nation promoted  activities designed to improve financial literacy, especially among  young people. April is National Financial Literacy Month and in celebration, the Savannah (GA) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated offered three segments of college financial literacy. The chapter promoted financial literacy education at the college level launching, Links Financially Intelligent Tigers (Links F.I.T.) at Savannah State University. The objectives aligned with Jump$tart, the organization that created National Financial Literacy Month. 
 
Links chapter member Patrece Grant helped design the program using her background in banking, finance, real estate and housing. Her perspective is that college students need financial tools while in school to encourage them to graduate with financial obligations that may hinder their future life and career plans.
 
Links F.I.T.’s financial literacy education included a presentation on budgeting and saving by Taylor Grant, Financial Representative from Northwestern Mutual, followed by a workshop on the importance of credit and credit ratings by Tina Browning, Certified Financial Educator from Queensborough National Bank and Trust and a presentation on investing by Malik Epps, an associate and member of the TrueBridge investment team.

​The Savannah (GA) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated launched the Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures Program in partnership with Savannah Chatham County Public Schools, Curtis V. Cooper Primary Health Care, Inc. and Dr. Byron Colley, Dentistry for Children. 
 
The Chapter has offered dental health education to students in kindergarten through 4th grade. The Links, Incorporated partnered with Colgate at the national level because of the teaching resources Colgate has developed for each grade level.

“This program is so important to our young children because cavities are the most preventable, yet the most common chronic disease in children,” said Angela Young, president of the Links chapter.  “One in five elementary school students has at least one untreated cavity and 52 percent of children in Georgia have a cavity before reaching 3rd grade,” she added.
 
Chapter members used  a  virtual education platform to visit classes to provide instruction on brushing, flossing, and eating healthy snacks.  During the classroom exercise students were entertained by videos depicting “Dr. Rabbit” and superheroes called “the Tooth Defenders.” 
 
Curtis V. Cooper Primary Health Care, Inc and its Dental Department provided more than 2,000 toothbrushes, toothpaste, and floss kits for students. Dr. Colley and Dentistry for Children also joined the Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures initiative by providing more than 4,000 dental packets.

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​The Savannah (GA) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, created a slide show to showcase the Legacy, Love and actions of Elevating the community. From service, good trouble, membership to good times, we invite viewers to enjoy this visual summary and our commitment to enjoying friendship with each other,

You may click the link here. 

​The national office of The Links, Incorporated, designated its Savannah (GA) Chapter, a 2020 Best Practices Chapter. The recognition was earned for its HIV/AIDs Prep and Stigma Program which was presented as part of the 2018- 2020 program reporting. The Chapter was notified of the recognition by Pamela Freeman Fobbs, JD, National Director for Programs.

The grant award which was made possible through the Southern Area of The Links, Incorporated, Health and Human Services in partnership with Gilead Sciences, Inc. As a grant recipient, the program included a partnership with Savannah State University’s counseling program and the Coastal Health District. Jacqueline Awe, Director of Student Development at Savannah State University, welcomed the opportunity to educate students about prevention, and the need for testing.
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The program included speakers, panels, art contest and the training of student ambassadors. The chapter was able to engage a national speaker, William Brawner as well as a viewing of his award winning documentary film “25 to Life." In order to sustain the program after the grant, student ambassadors were recruited and trained. Part of the grant funds were used to install additional condom boxes at various locations on campus. The student ambassadors were able to publish testing dates when the Coastal Health District would be on campus providing free HIV testing clinics. The other program components which contributed to earning the Best Practice Award included a radio broadcast in which Grayzel Ellison, chairperson of the Chapter’s Health and Human Services Facet interviewed Dr. Debbie P. Hagins, Medical Director of the Costal CARE Centers in Southeast GA. The Chapter held a digital art competition and the purpose was to use art to diminish the negative stereotyping of persons who have tested positive for HIV.



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The New Beginning Art Exhibition celebrated 19 years in the visual arts competition in a partnership between the Savannah (GA) Chapter, The Links, Incorporated, the Savannah Black Heritage Festival, the City of Savannah and the Savannah Chatham Public School System. The chapter applauds the art teachers in the school district who led students in the design and execution of art work as their contribution to the success of New Beginning.

New Beginning was held Thursday, February 20, 2020, in the Ben Tucker Theater in the Savannah Cultural Arts Center. Savannah Mayor Van R. Johnson, II, was on hand to congratulate the students, teachers and parents for their hard work and dedication to the creative success of this juried competition.  Links chapter President Angela Young presented the awards. The jury panel was made up of art educators and professional artists from throughout the Savannah area.