The Wilmington (DE) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, was sponsored by the Philadelphia Chapter and was chartered on April 10, 1948, as the third chapter in the National organization of The Links, Incorporated. Twelve civic-minded women, already active in various other organizations, comprised the initial group. The charter members were Beulah Anderson, Edith Barton, Alice Brown, Grace Goens, K. Lorraine Hamilton, Ann Harris, Marjorie Hopkins, Marjorie Jackson, Rozellia O’Neal, Elizabeth Anderson Parker, Sara Taylor, and Sara Jane Waring.

Poised to celebrate 75 years of friendship and service in Wilmington and its surrounding communities the Wilmington (DE) Chapter was the third chapter to join the national chain of civic-minded women of The Links, Incorporated.

Past presidents of the chapter are:

Alice Brown
K. L. Hamilton
Sara Taylor
Maurice Christophe
Mable Simms
Yvonne Jensen
Alma Allen
Jacqueline Faulcon, Ph.D.
Lozelle DeLuz
Kathryn Hazeur
Hon. Margaret Rose Henry
Dorothy Cuff

Roberta Walker
Vera Murray
Cherritta Matthews, Ed.D
Constance Hart
Lucy McLamb
Claire LaMar Carey
Karen Ingram
Sheryl Tate
Serena M. Williams, Esq.
Rhonda Starks Crowder
Joan F. Coker, M.D.

Since its inception, the Wilmington (DE) Chapter has been committed to serving the Wilmington community with thoughtful service and impactful programs with an eye toward enriching the quality of life for all residents. Through the years, the members have brought many firsts to the community including sponsorship of the Ebony Fashion Fair Show, presentation of the incomparable Duke Ellington in concert at The Playhouse Theater, sponsorship of projects for migrant workers, book awards, scholarships to college-bound students, presentation of African-American artists at the Delaware Art Museum and the Christina Cultural Arts Center, presentation of the Towels Sisters in a musical recital and fashion show, co-hosted a fundraising gala for the grand opening of the Nordstrom as Christiana Mall, Juleps and Jazz annual fundraiser that takes place on Derby Day, and was one of the first African-American women’s organizations to join the Fund for Women (providing funding to programs for women and girls).

Over the years, under the umbrella of the five international facets—Services to Youth, The Arts, National Trends and Services, International Trends and Services and Health and Human Services—the chapter has donated educational supplies and finances to schools in South Africa, fostered cross-cultural communication by hosting local international students at luncheons, instituted a tutorial and checkers program (homework for 1 hour, checkers for 1 hour) which aided students in developing their math skills, established mentoring and support initiatives with Serviam Academy, Girls Inc. the Wilmington Senior Center GrandFamilies Program, and partners with Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. to mentor high school males in The Achievers Program. The programs are implemented through strategies such as public information and education, economic development, and public policy campaigns.

Today, the chapter boasts a membership of approximately 40 women under the dynamic leadership of Janet Y. Bivins, Esquire.  During COVID-19, a very critical time, the chapter partnered with ChristianaCare to provide scholarships to HBCU Week and created the Dream, Believe, Achieve Scholarship, co-hosted a She Leads EmpowHER series event with the Dover (DE) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated—a meet and greet with members of the Delaware Assembly, hosted a Know Before You Go Webinar for voters, held Real Talk Vaccine Webinars, led vaccination initiatives, donated $10,000 to Delaware State University, held food drives with the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc., Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., and Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester, continued its work with The Achievers  Program and developed a mentoring program with the Teen Warehouse.  This diverse group of talented women continues their legacy of service by providing transformational programming for the community in which we serve.

The Links, Incorporated is an international, not-for-profit corporation, established in 1946. The membership consists of more than 17,000 professional women of African descent in 299 chapters located in 41 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, and the United Kingdom. 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.  For more information regarding the international organization, please visit:  https://linksinc.org/