Members of the Mississippi Roses Chapter of the Links Incorporated traveled to Jackson on Feb. 9 to participate in the annual Links Day at the Capitol event.

Chapter members RoSusan D. Bartee, Yvonne Sheryl Ingram Burns, Phillis George, Theresa G. Isom, Eulanda K. Jackson, and Sharon Phillips Wofford were welcomed to the state capitol by The Jackson, Le Fleur’s Bluff, Columbus-Lowndes, Mississippi Delta, Natchez and Vicksburg chapters.

Important issues on this year’s policy agenda were: fully funding state schools; expanding early childhood education; providing training and professional development for educators, administrators, and staff; augmenting the mental health budget for students; and implementing programs to assist the state’s most vulnerable populations. After recognition by the House and Senate, the Mississippi chapters attended a luncheon featuring remarks by legislators.

The Links, Incorporated is an international, not-for-profit corporation, established in 1946. The membership consists of nearly 14,000 professional women of color in 283 chapters located in 41 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 likeminded organizations and individuals for partnership. Links members contribute more than 500,000 documented hours of community service annually.

The Links Foundation, Incorporated, the philanthropic arm of The Links, Incorporated, has made more than $25 million in charitable contributions since its founding. Working closely with its sponsors and supporters, The Links, Incorporated is focused on creating transformational programming and impacting lives in communities of color through Services to Youth, The Arts, National Trends and Services, International Trends and Services, and Health and Human Services, to improve the quality of life for individuals, families and communities. The Links, Incorporated: “Linked in Friendship, Connected in Service.” For more information, visit www.linksinc.org.

In October 2015, The Mississippi Roses Chapter became the 282nd chapter of the Links, Incorporated. Its signature program, Ambassadors for Health: Growing, Going and Glowing for Life is a five-year transformational program with a mission of reducing the incidence of childhood obesity in the community by promoting healthy lifestyles. Its vision is to create communities where children enjoy long healthy lives through education, participation, and collaboration. Since its inception, the chapter has partnered with The Mississippi State Extension Service, the Gertrude C. Ford Center, the National Food Service Management Institute, The University of Mississippi, and the Holly Springs School District, the chapter has sponsored cultural and educational activities for North Mississippi youth. The Mississippi Roses chapter looks forward to expanding its reach to Desoto, Lafayette, Union and Benton counties.