National Trends & Services
The VISION of the National Trends and Services (NTS) facet is to reduce barriers to services through advocacy, education, and service. Our MISSION is to empower the communities in which we work. Our GOAL is to increase collaborative partnerships; to include communities identified as having the greatest need.
Since 2005, the San Francisco Chapter of the Links has focused its program services in the Bayview Hunters Point (BVHP) community of San Francisco, a multiethnic community with a large (though steadily decreasing) African American (AA) population. The missions of National Trends & Services (NTS) is to promote awareness of issues that affect African Americans. NTS identifies, designs and implements programs that heighten awareness of educational, economic, health and wellness, political and social issues that impact African-Americans.
VOTER EDUCATION & REGISTRATION - OCTOBER 2019
On October 26, 2019, the San Francisco Chapter of the Links, Incorporated partnered with six YMCAs in San Francisco for voter education. We provided voter education materials and our 2019 Voter Information Pamphlet at the Bayview Hunter's Point, Stonestown, Buchanan, Embarcadero, Presidio, and Richmond YMCAs.
SANKOFA DAYS @ THE BAY - FEBRUARY 2019
The San Francisco Links partnered with the NorCal MLK Foundation and Aquarium of the Bay for a special evening with Carl Anthony, environmental and social justice activist and 2019 SANKOFA Sustainability Award honoree. This was the kickoff event for SANKOFA DAYS @ the BAY, acknowledging and celebrating Black History Month and featuring events and activities focused on climate change, the environment, and sustainability.
The main goal of SANKOFA DAYS @ The Bay was to bring 350 community youth to the Aquarium of the Bay. SANKOFA DAYS @ The Bay featured a 2 day blend of activities focused on climate change, the environment, environmental justice, and sustainability that appealed to children, families, and the community. We celebrated notable African American heroes and leaders in the environmental movement with activities that were educational, inclusive, and celebratory of the richness of the African Diaspora. The community had All-Day access to the Aquarium, exhibit, touch pools, Sea Lion Center and special youth programming from 12noon - 6:00pm. Target community – Bayview Hunter’s Point, Visitation Valley, Western Addition.
Highlights included arts and crafts with members of the SF Links, drumming rhythms lead by Kele Nitoto, education on environmental literacy by Jamil Burns of Raised Roots, and of course access to the Aquarium of the Bay!!
MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY - JANUARY 2019
San Francisco Links members assisted with the Annual MLK Day Parade celebrating the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The 1.5 mile journey crossed the Lefty O’Doul Bridge and stopped at the Willie Mays Plaza at AT&T Park. It commemorated the crossing of the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, a symbol of violence and victory in the civil rights movement.
Members greeted the public exiting train from San Jose in preparation for the 1.5 mile march honoring the 1965 Selma to Montgomery, Alabama marches. The march began at San Francisco’s Caltrain Station to Yerba Buena Gardens. Chapter members also supported the community discussion of the nationally acclaimed film Resilience and volunteered for the Annual MLK Breakfast co-sponsored by the NorCal MLK Foundation and San Francisco Labor Council.