Our Story
About Us
For over 70 years, we have provided service to the St. Louis community.
The Links, Incorporated is an international, not-for-profit corporation, established in 1946. It is one of the nation’s oldest and largest volunteer service organizations committed to enriching, sustaining, and ensuring the culture and economic survival of African Americans and other people of African ancestry.
On November 6, 1946, Margaret Hawkins and Sarah Scott, two young women from Philadelphia, gathered seven friends to establish a groundbreaking inter-city club. They envisioned an organization that promoted civic engagement, education, and cultural enrichment, addressing gaps left by existing organizations. The Links, Incorporated was born from these aspirations, dedicated to fostering cultural appreciation through the arts, nurturing community relations, and empowering women to embrace their civicduties.
Among the original eight members was Frances Atkinson, who had strong ties to St. Louis and served as corresponding secretary. Her sister later joined the St. Louis (MO) Chapter, chartered in April 1948 as the fourth oldest chapter in Linkdom. The St. Louis Chapter also made history as the first to hold an installation service, with Charlotte Ford serving as its inaugural president from 1948 to 1950. Committed to friendship through service, the group undertook annual charitable projects and fundraising efforts. Today, The Links,
Incorporated continues to expand its impact, connecting communities locally, nationally, and internationally.
Chartered April 1948
Want to Learn More?
National Website
For more information, visit our national website at www.linksinc.org.
Central Area Website
For more information, visit the Central Area website at https://centralarealinks.org/