Links Inc

* Arts facet mission was to encourage the love and appreciation of all genres of art through quality programming that would educate and enlighten all ages within our community using artistic expression, visual display, theater, musical presentation, and education. This was especially important during the COVID pandemic to help with isolation and mental health issues. * Show that art is used as a non-threating avenue for social change. Educating our community on how various genres of art was used as a change agent in the past and identifying it now in our current lives. * To convey a Black experience by teaching the following art genes; poetry, photography, modern dance, docent training, ekphrastic writing, and theatrical production, all provided by Black art's. * To inspire creativity through communication, expression, comprehensive critical thinking, share sessions, and workshops. * The mission is to create a feminine pantry where women would be free of humiliation and shop of affordability. Women may visit the pantry in their community or attend monthly pop-up shops the hygiene items donated are attractively displayed on shelves for women to shop and choose what a little retail therapy and achieve satisfaction of leaving with purses filled with life necessities most the menstruation stigma and call out the menstrual inequality that exist among women receiving Chapter members collaborated with other advocacy groups to mobilize and educate voters and el against women * The HHS committee integrated healthcare concerns into all facets during the program year. The Arts Facet had discussions on kidney disease the last 2 years and a visit from Sydney the Kidney this year; received dental hygiene products. Following one of their events we set up a Covid vaccination clinic and had an impromptu discussion with Rev. Dr. William King for his radio program called "Real Talk". Dr. Ruth Quarles answered questions on issues effecting health care in AAs and kidney disease. The Arts Committee surveyed for the Chapter for volunteers who would take posters to their churches, salons and spas. STY Facet's STEM program designed cookbooks for those with kidney disease with the support of HHS and delivered back packs with personal care items to East Middle School. In the bags was information on kidney disease with school supplies. East High School had the P4P program with NT Facet and HHS where personal hygiene and feminine products were provided along with purses for females or backpacks for males. These bags also had materials on kidney disease. This P4P project was also present for 300 SIR with bladder control items made available for the older adults who cannot afford such item and cannot use SNAP assistance for them. The IT Facet had several events with the International students of YSU and we discussed kidney disease and handed out materials. Moto missionary group received dental products for a school in Africa from YSU's dental hygienist program via the HHS Facet. The HHS Facet started a collaboration with a hot meals program called The Community Kitchen. The HHS committee and other Link volunteers attend the center to hand out health care information and at times fresh fruits and veggies. HHS had physician directed presentations on colon and breast cancer and heart disease in February. All of the Youngstown Chapter participates at the 300 SIR program. Assignments are given and everyone helps. Some Links are presenters, some help with registration, collecting surveys and etc.