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Welcome! We are committed to friendship and service, strengthening our community through service and advocacy for mental health.

About us

The Chicago (IL) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, established in 1950 as the first chapter in the city, is dedicated to fostering friendship and service within the community. Our members are committed to addressing key issues through impactful programs in areas such as health, youth services, the arts, and more. A signature initiative, Links2Hope, focuses on raising mental health awareness within the African-American community, aiming to reduce stigma and provide critical resources. With a strong legacy of service and leadership, the Chicago Chapter continues to make a lasting impact through advocacy, empowerment, and collaboration.

Greetings

 Chapter President  

Kimbra Bell Balark, MD, FACP  

 Welcome to the website of the Chicago (IL) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated!

 

As President, it is my honor to welcome you on behalf of our chapter—one rooted in friendship, service, leadership, and a deep commitment to uplifting communities of African descent.

 

Chartered in 1950, the Chicago (IL) Chapter holds a proud and historic place within The Links, Incorporated. We are one of the oldest chapters in the nation and the oldest chapter in the state of Illinois. For more than seven decades, our members have worked with purpose and passion to serve, support, and strengthen our communities.

 

Our programming is guided by the five facets of The Links, Incorporated: Services to Youth, The Arts, National Trends and Services, International Trends and Services, and Health and Human Services. Through these facets, we create meaningful programs, build impactful partnerships, and address the evolving needs of the communities we serve.

 

We are also proud, in conjunction with our Chapter's Foundation, to have granted well over one million dollars to deserving organizations whose missions align with our commitment to service, equity, and community advancement.

 

As you explore our website, we invite you to learn more about who we are, the work we do, and the legacy we continue to build. Thank you for visiting, and we hope you are inspired by the friendship, service, and impact that define the Chicago (IL) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated.

 

With gratitude and warm regards,

 

Kimbra Bell Balark, MD, FACP

President

Chicago (IL) Chapter 

The Links, Incorporated

 

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About the Links, Incorporated 

The Links, Incorporated is an international, not-for-profit corporation, established in 1946. The membership consists of more than 15,000 professional women of color in 285 chapters located in 41 states, the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. It is one of the nation’s 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.

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