New Orleans (LA) Links chapter member Michelle Blouin-Williams is a mathematics professor at St. Mary's Academy High School in New Orleans ~ her alma mater. When she started a math contest with a bonus question challenging students to create a new proof for the Pythagorean theorem using trigonometry, Mrs. Blouin-Williams...
Category: Services to Youth
Celebrating Over $100,000 in Scholarship Giving
What a good year! 2024 is a milestone year for The New Orleans (LA) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated. Since 2017, the Chapter has awarded over $100,000 in scholarships to deserving high school seniors and HBCU college students. We are proud to be facilitators of hope and impactful advocates for...
Congratulations! 2024 New Orleans (LA) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated Scholarship Recipients
During the chapter's annual Swing Into Spring gala on April 21, 2024, The New Orleans (LA) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated proudly awarded scholarships to nine deserving high school seniors and HBCU college students from the metropolitan New Orleans area. It is a tremendous honor to be a part of...
Supporting CLOVER in the Greater New Orleans Area
The New Orleans (LA) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated is a proud supporter of CLOVER. In its 127th year, CLOVER offers nationally-accredited & state-certified programs and services to infants, children, parents, seniors, veterans and medically-fragile adults in the Greater New Orleans area. Their mission is to educate children, strengthen families,...
INSPIRE NOLA Read Aloud Day at Alice Harte
The New Orleans (LA) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated participated in INSPIRE NOLA Read Aloud Day at Alice Harte School. One example of the many activities the chapter is involved in throughout the New Orleans community.
34th Local Competition of the Annual Scripps National Spelling Bee
On March 18, 2023, The New Orleans (LA) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated hosted the 34th local competition of the annual Scripps National Spelling Bee at Dillard University in New Orleans. The winner of the local competition is awarded the opportunity to compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee to...
Alcohol and Drug Use Prevention Roundtable at Mary McLeod Bethune
Project L.E.A.D. ~ "Links Educate, Accommodate and Develop with High Expectations" ~ is a signature program of The Links, Incorporated. The title L.E.A.D. reflects The Links, Incorporated's effort to close the academic achievement gap of middle school students, while responding to their social-emotional needs, encouraging health and wellness, introducing STEM...
UNCF Walk for Education
Love for HBCUs shone brightly at the October 22, 2022 UNCF Walk for Education. The New Orleans (LA) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated and many other community members stepped up to support the UNCF. The UNCF Walk for Education is a nationwide initiative to raise critical funds the UNCF needs...
Bethune 8th graders experience a historical epic in the film – ‘The Woman King’
The Woman King is the remarkable story of the Agojie, the all-female unit of warriors who protected the African Kingdom of Dahomey in the 1800s with skills and a fierceness unlike anything the world has ever seen. Inspired by true events, The Woman King follows the emotionally epic journey of...
New Orleans (LA) Chapter Supporting Dillard University Students
The students of Dillard University were ecstatic about the support shown to them when New Orleans (LA) Chapter President, Tracey Flemings-Davillier, and members, Germaine Davillier and Torrie Harris, visited the DU campus and presented gas gift cards to the students. The Links, Incorporated established the National HBCU Initiative at its...
School Supply Donation to Kingsley House
The New Orleans (LA) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated is proud to have donated over 250 school supply items to our partner, Kingsley House. The mission of Kingsley House is to educate children, strengthen families, and build community. For over 100 years, it has been a leader in early education...
Links To Success: Children Achieving Excellence
Chapter members visited our partners at Kingsley House where we read to students as part of our organization's Links To Success: Children Achieving Excellence Program, which mentors and assists in closing the achievement gap for pre-K-3rd grade minority students with an emphasis on literacy and healthy lifestyles. The chapter also...
2022 Scripps National Spelling Bee Competition
For over 30 years, the New Orleans (LA) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated has hosted the local competition of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. In 2021, Louisiana's own Zaila Avant-garde won the local competition and went on to became the Scripps National Spelling Bee Champion. In the process, she won...
Celebrating Bethune Graduates
In recognition of our 8th grade Bethune students' successful completion of exams and graduation, each of The New Orleans (LA) Chapter's programming facets bestowed gifts and celebrated the students' accomplishments with a well deserved party. It's on to the next chapter for our students - - High School. New Orleans...
Honoring the New Orleans (LA) Chapter’s 2022 Scholarship Recipients
On April 23, 2022, The New Orleans (LA) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated awarded scholarships to four HBCU students and four high school seniors. Each student received $2,500. On May 22, 2022, the Chapter hosted a reception for the scholarship recipients and their family. The pandemic notwithstanding, the New Orleans...
Reception Honoring the 2022 Local Scripps National Spelling Bee Winner and Finalists
On Thursday, May 12, 2022, The New Orleans (LA) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated presented awards to our awesome local spelling bee winners. The Chapter presented trophies, certificates and swag bags to the four champion spellers: First Place: Matthew Yi - 4th Grader at My...
The New Orleans (LA) Links Announces its 2022 Scholarship Recipients
The New Orleans (LA) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated is proud to have awarded its 2022 Scholarships to four deserving high school seniors and four talented HBCU students. Each recipient received a one-time scholarship in the amount of $2,500. Over the last six years, The New Orleans (LA) Chapter's scholarship...
Celebrating the End of Exams with our Partner School ~ Mary McCleod Bethune Elementary
The New Orleans (LA) Chapter congratulates our students at Mary McCleod Bethune Elementary School for the hard work each put in during the school year and especially during May exam week. Always a stressful time, the chapter aimed to ensure that during exam week the students ended the day with...
2022 New Orleans Links Scholarship Opportunity: Accepting Applications
The New Orleans (LA) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated is accepting applications for its 2022 Scholarship. The Chapter will award a one-time scholarship in the amount of $2,500 to a qualified registered HBCU College Student enrolled in a four-year institution and a qualified High School senior who has been accepted...
Zaila Avant-garde added to Ebony’s Power 100 List
Iconic publisher of all things Black excellence, EBONY, announced the return and reimagining of its signature program – the 2021 EBONY Power 100. The Honorees embody the remarkable achievements of African-Americans across industries and marks the culmination of the brand’s 75th anniversary year. This year’s list spans 10 categories and highlights...
New Orleans Links Showing Support for HBCUs
The Links, Incorporated supports Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Through its National HBCU Initiative, it seeks to increase the retention and graduation rates of students attending HBCUs. New Orleans is the proud home of three HBCUs: Dillard University, Southern University - New Orleans and Xavier University - New Orleans....
Program Focus – Services To Youth
The New Orleans (LA) Chapter was honored to be recognized by our National President, Dr. Kimberly Jefferies Leonard, for our 32-year partnership with the Scripps National Spelling Bee. It was yet another occasion to celebrate 2021's champion - Louisiana's first and the first African American champion of the Scripps's National...
More About Spelling’s New Queen Bee ~ Zaila Avant-garde
At 14 years old, Zaila Avant-garde is: The 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee Champion. The first African-American Scripps Champion. The first ever Louisiana Scripps Champion. She holds THREE Guinness world records dribbling multiple basketballs simultaneously. She hopes to attend Harvard; one day play for the WNBA; and, after her basketball...
Zaila Avant-garde of Louisiana is the 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee Champion!
Zaila Avant-garde made history on July 8, 2021 becoming the 93rd Scripps National Spelling Bee Champion. She is the first Louisianan ever to win the bee. She is the first African-American to win the bee (only the second Black contestant to win after Jody-Anne Maxwell of Jamaica won in 1998)....
2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee Finalists
The Finalists for the 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee are 11 amazing young students who will compete for the Scripps Cup at The Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida on Thursday, July 8 at 8:00pm (EST) on ESPN2. Congratulations to the 2021 Finalists! Of note, Speller #133 is our...
Well Wishes to our 8th Project L.E.A.D. program participants
Throughout the 2020-2021 program year the New Orleans Chapter's five facet committees worked with 25 - 8th grade girls attending Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary Charter School. The Chapter developed targeted programming with the goal of preparing students for the next steps in their educational journey and also introduced them to...
NOLA Links Love Our HBCUs
New Orleans is so very fortunate to be home to three of the great HBCU institutions - Dillard University, Southern University New Orleans and Xavier University. Outside of New Orleans we also love our Grambling State University, Southern University and A & M College (Baton Rouge) and Southern University -...
Kicking-off our 2019-2020 Program Year with Amazing Young Ladies at Bethune Elementary School
Project L.E.A.D. is off to a great start at Bethune Elementary School. The 8th graders had an opportunity to journal, share hopes and dreams and, most importantly, had Links mentors ready to give them the tools to advance successfully to the next level of their educational development.
2018 Project L.E.A.D. Conference – College Readiness 101
On May 7, 2018, The New Orleans Links presented a day long college readiness conference to twenty-five 8th grade girls at Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary School. The Project L.E.A.D. Conference was the culmination of a year of activities presented by each facet of the New Orleans Chapter - Arts, Services...
Bethune Eight Graders Visit Washington DC
Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary School is the The New Orleans Chapter's partner school. The Chapter hosts and sponsors many activities for the students during the school year. One of the 2018 end of the year activities we were more than happy to assist with was the 8th grade trip to...
Local Competition of the 30th Annual Scripps National Spelling Bee
The New Orleans Chapter of The Links, Incorporated and NOLA.com/Times-Picayune sponsored the local competition of the 30th Annual Scripps National Spelling Bee on Saturday, March 17, 2018 at Xavier University in New Orleans, LA. The students were vying for a spot at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., May 29-31. When the field...
Project L.E.A.D. Kickoff: Rip the Runway
We are excited to kickoff our chapter's umbrella program, Project L.E.A.D., with the 7th and 8th grade girls at Bethune Elementary. The theme for the year is College Prep Starts Now - Readiness 101. During the event, Links shared their college experiences and engaged the students with a College Knowledge...
Program Year Planning
Solid planning and innovative thinking are keys to successful and sustainable programming. During its September chapter meeting, the Programming Committee shared its vision for programming during the 2017-2018 program year. To be sure, members are excited and ready to challenge themselves and think outside of the box with the goal...
Congratulations to Tien Nguyen – The Winner of the Local Competition of the 29th Annual Scripps National Spelling Bee
The New Orleans Chapter of The Links, Incorporated and NOLA.com/Times-Picayune sponsored the local competition of the 29th Annual Scripps National Spelling Bee on Saturday, March 18, 2017 at Xavier University in New Orleans, LA. Students in the fifth through eighth grades from public and non-public schools in a seven-parish area, including...
Project L.E.A.D. Girls Conference
Project L.E.A.D. ~ "Links Educate, Accommodate and Develop with High Expectations" The title L.E.A.D. reflects The Links, Incorporated's effort to close the academic achievement gap of middle school students (4th through 8th grade), while responding to their social-emotional needs, encouraging health and wellness, introducing STEM related education and career options, and...
New Orleans Links and “Awesome Girls” visit the National World War II Museum in New Orleans
On Saturday, February 20, 2016, The National Trends and Services Committee of the New Orleans (LA) Chapter of the Links, Incorporated hosted a viewing of the exhibit “Fighting for the Right to Fight, the African American Presence in World War II.” The exhibit provided the “Awesome Girls” with a glimpse into...
27th Annual New Orleans Spelling Bee
The New Orleans (LA) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated and The Times – Picayune held its 27th Annual Spelling Bee on March 14, 2015 at Xavier University. There were 247 champion spellers registered for the Bee from 35 schools. The majority of schools registered eight spellers. The winner, Tien Nguyen,...