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Programs

The San Francisco Links are committed to improving the lives of African-Americans, members of the African Diaspora and the underserved in the San Francisco Community, with an emphasis on its youth, through dynamic and transforming cultural, civic, educational and health-related community programs.

Since our founding in 1950, we have volunteered tens of thousands of service hours to the San Francisco community and donated thousands of dollars to support health and wellness activities, the arts, youth achievement and international awareness programs throughout the city. We have also devoted considerable hours and funds to support needs in the African Diaspora.

Promoting Health & Wellnesssf_links_connect_logo

SFLinksConnect: Building Healthy Communities Together, is the San Francisco Links signature preventive health and wellness campaign building healthy communities in partnership with community organizations and service providers serving San Franciscans.

As we consider health and wellness issues that face the African American community understand that in the end we seek better health outcomes…this starts with prevention… to avoid what so commonly is the norm to engage patients further down the health continuum where health matters are chronic and health disparities are
rampant, …especially for communities of color.

Through our many national and international community partners, the
San Francisco Links have:

  • Taught life skills management for seniors
  • Coordinated community health fairs
  • Supported Kaiser-Permanente community based health programs
  • Partnered with the Arthur Coleman Center
  • Promoted healthy eating through its Garden to Plate Initiative
  • Provided funding for the Uganda Ministry of Health’s Mamma Kits
  • Supported water well projects in Africa
  • Increased awareness of organ donation in the African-American community through the California Transplant Donor Network
  • Received the 2009 Excellence in Health Linkage Award at the Western Area Conference
  • Provided Survival Kits for women impacted by the 2010 earthquake in Haiti
  • Presented community film screening of The Waiting Room and panel discussion with healthcare and health policy experts. Information provided on Affordable Care Act (Obamacare)
  • Facilitated Affordable Care Act Education Day – held at the YMCA in Bayview Hunter’s Point. Public awareness day for the community, featuring a panel of healthcare and policy leaders knowledgeable about the details on the Affordable Care Act and how to register
  • Launched Everyday Healthy: Get Lean in 2015, a 6-week pilot nutrition education, cooking demonstration and physical activity program in partnership with Arthur H. Coleman Community Health Foundation and Mercy Housing – Bayview Hills Gardens for formerly homeless families

liberia_logoPromoting Education and Leadership

The Links Incorporated has historically focused on addressing educational, financial, social and cultural barriers facing African descendants within and outside of the U.S. We have award winning model programs that address equity and access issues at home and abroad through the transformational work of our chapter.

SFLinksConnect: Mentoring Across The Miles, Liberia continues our core national and international educational outreach mission. Our Liberia program affirms the historical connection between African Americans and Liberia, which is embodied in our relationship with Ellen Sirleaf, President of Liberia and an honorary member of The Links Incorporated.

The foundational pillars of the program are our mentors, young women attending Skyline College and residents of Bayview-Hunters Point, our mentees, young  high school girls from Liberia, and our SF Links members who are mentors and role models to both. Our mentees are supported financially (SFLinks Scholar Awards), academically, and personally so that they graduate from high school and become leaders in life and in their chosen fields.

Through the cross cultural exchanges we are learning about cultural and social differences as well as similarities in the lives and experiences of our mentors and mentees that are equally worth celebrating as the foundation of the bonds that are being established between them.

A key success factor of the program are our partners, collaborators and advisors who bring subject knowledge, expertise, resources and connections.

skyline_logo_notag_cmykDr. Regina Stroud, President, Skyline College
Richard Soyombo, Director of the Bay Area Center of International Trade and Development, African Diaspora Program
Timothy Dupre, Coordinator

liberia_mapHonorable Senator Gbehzhongar Findley, President of the Liberian Senate
Professor Levi B. Zangai, Ph.D., President/CEO of Grand Bassa Community College in Buchanan, Liberia
Honorable Julia Duncan-Cassell, Minister of Gender and  Development
Debo Belvis O’Diaji, Director, Information Resource Center, U.S. Embassy Monrovia, Liberia

Promoting the Artsimage

As part of our commitment to supporting San Francisco’s rich African-American
music and arts scene, the San Francisco Links have:

  • Proudly sponsored SFJAZZ performances by major artists, including Ahmad Jamal, Sweet Honey & The Rock, Jason Moran with Randy Weston and Billy Harper, Esperanza Spalding
  • Treasure Awards presented in 2007 to aspiring artists
  • Participated in funding acquisitions of works by artists such as Romare Bearden
  • Supported the Museum of the African Diaspora and other major San Francisco art institutions

Sponsors

Our current sponsors include:

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Partnerships

Our current partners include:

  • The Bayview Hunters Point YMCA
  • Kaiser Permanente
  • The California Donor Network
  • SFJAZZ and the Lorraine Hansberry Theater
  • The California Black Health Network
  • California Pan Ethnic Health Network
  • District 10 Supervisor Malia Cohen
  • AARP
  • Bayview Opera House
  • Dignity Health
  • The California Endowment
  • Arthur H. Coleman Community Health Foundation
  • Skyline College
  • Grand Bassa Community College, Buchanan, Liberia

As the needs of the San Francisco African-American community change and evolve, so do our programs.  We conduct regular evaluations of our programs to determine the outcomes of our effortsWe welcome opportunities to partner with businesses and community based organizations that share our passion and vision.  Partnership activities can include, but are not limited to, a tax-deductible donation to support a program and/or event; underwriting a special activity or the cost of goods & services; or providing in-kind services and/or purposes to benefit an identified need. The opportunities are endless and we are greatly appreciative of your support.