September 3, 2019 (NEW ORLEANS) – New Orleans area women who need a little extra help entering the workforce have a new group of supporters.  Members of The Links, Incorporated and The Links Foundation, Incorporated donated more than 200 new handbags, journals and $5,830 to Dress for Success New Orleans as part of a meeting held last week in the Crescent City.

Meaghan Bonavita, Dress for Success New Orleans board president received the gift at the group’s closing session on Saturday, August 31, 2019. Bonavita called the group’s support a key element in helping women achieve impactful careers and financial independence. “You are women helping women, women empowering women who don’t have resources,” she said.

The Links national president, Kimberly Jeffries Leonard, Ph.D., congratulated members who donated both items and cash as a part of their meeting attendance. Leonard told members that the gift marks the beginning of a national partnership. The Links, Incorporated will soon sign a national partnership with Dress for Success and support that organization’s efforts nationwide. Cities where both The Links, Incorporated and Dress for Success have existing chapters will have the opportunity to work together. In describing Links members, Leonard cited the “beauty of their spirits,” as the reason the impromptu donation was so large. Local Links members from the New Orleans (LA), Crescent City (LA) and Pontchartrain (LA) Chapters raised $1,500. Those attending the meeting donated more than 200 purses, journals, and $2,165. The Links Foundation, Incorporated matched that donation with an additional $2,165.

The Links Foundation, Incorporated

The Links Foundation, Incorporated, the philanthropic arm of The Links, Incorporated, has made more than $25 million dollars in charitable contributions since its founding. In 2018, The Links Foundation, Incorporated named its fifth $1 million grantee – St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Other million-dollar grantees include the United Negro College Fund, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc., the National Civil Rights Museum and the Smithsonian National Museum of African American Culture and History.

About The Links, Incorporated

The Links, Incorporated consists of more than 16,000 professional women of color in 288 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, visit www.linksinc.org.

About Dress for Success

Dress for Success is a non-profit organization with the mission of empowering women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire and the development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. For information, visit www.dressforsuccess.org and/or watch this video.

New Orleans, LA – Two organizations are coming together to improve relations between communities of color and law enforcement.  The Links, Incorporated and the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives signed a Memorandum of Understanding and will work together in this historic partnership.  Leadership representing both groups met in New Orleans, Louisiana at NOBLE’s 43rd Annual Training Conference and Exhibition.

“This program aims to change how law enforcement and our communities interact, possible saving lives,” National President of The Links, Incorporated Dr. Kimberly Jeffries Leonard said.  She was joined in the effort by NOBLE’s Immediate Past President Vera Bumpers and newly elected NOBLE President C.J. Davis.  Both Bumpers and Davis are also members of The Links, Incorporated.  “There is important work to be done.  NOBLE is in the perfect position to help produce solutions as we continue to strive for equity in the administration of justice for all communities,” said Davis.

A key feature of the partnership is the launch of the PEACE (Police Engagement and Community Education) program.  Through PEACE, Chapters of The Links, Incorporated will engage in panel discussion, town halls and workshops as well as share educational and training materials in their communities which promote understanding and reduce police violence in their communities.  Youth, stakeholders, community groups, government officials, businesses, faith groups and civil rights organizations are also invited to take part in the programs. NOBLE is making available its resources and curriculum in the effort.  PEACE initiatives are set to begin immediately nationwide, especially in areas where there is a history tensions between people of color and law enforcement.

About The Links, Incorporated

The Links, Incorporated is an international nonprofit corporation established in 1946. 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 organization is more than 16,000 members strong with 288 chapters in 41 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of the Bahamas and the United Kingdom.  Links members provide more than 1 million documented hours of community service annually — strengthening their communities and enhancing the nation.  For more information, visit linksinc.org.

About NOBLE

The National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) serves as the conscience of law enforcement by being committed to Justice by Action. NOBLE has nearly 60 chapters and represents over 3,000 members worldwide that represent chief executive officers and command-level law enforcement officials from federal, state, county, municipal law enforcement agencies, and criminal justice practitioners. The combined fiscal budget oversight of our membership exceeds $8 billion. NOBLE serves more than 60,000 youth through its major program components which include: Mentoring, Education, Leadership Development, and Safety. For more information, visit http://noblenational.org