Our History

The Links, Incorporated founded in 1946, is one of the 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 Links, Incorporated has had a long tradition of promoting and engaging in educational, civic and intercultural activities in order to enrich the lives of the larger community. The international membership consists of nearly 17,000 professional women of African descent in 299 chapters located in 41 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. The Links, Incorporated is built on the tenets of service and friendship and the organization contributes more than 1 million hours of documented community service annually.

The North Shore (IL) Chapter became a part of The Links, Incorporated within the Central Area on November 19,1972. Vivian McMillan and Georgia Williams were the driving force as co-organizers that brought the chapter into existence. The North Shore (IL) Chapter was sponsored by the Chicago Chapter of the Links, Incorporated, which was the only Links chapter in the Chicagoland area at the time. Today, there are nine chapters in metropolitan Chicago. Anna Julian was the Chapter Establishment Officer, Willie Ganton, the Area Director and Helen Grey Edmonds was the fifth National President. The North Shore (IL) Chapter inducted 25 civic-minded leaders and honorary member, Etta Moten Barnett who later became an active member of The Links, Incorporated.