House Concurrent Resolution 80

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMEMORATING THE LINKS, INCORPORATED, ON THE OBSERVANCE OF THE "MISSISSIPPI LINKS DAY AT THE CAPITOL 2019" FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY UNDER THE PROGRAM INITIATIVE, "TRANSFORMING COMMUNITIES - FULFILLING OUR PURPOSE."

WHEREAS, The Links, Incorporated is an international, not-for-profit corporation founded in 1946 with more than 15,000 members in 288 chapters located in 42 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of the Bahamas and the United Kingdom, and seven chapters are located in the State of Mississippi, the organization's Southern Area; and

WHEREAS, The Links, Incorporated is one of the nation's oldest and largest volunteer service organizations whose members are professional women committed to enriching, sustaining and ensuring the culture and economic survival of African Americans and other persons of African ancestry, and to this end, the organization contributes more than one million documented hours of community service annually; and

WHEREAS, Kimberly Jeffries Leonard, Ph.D., serves as the 17th National President of The Links, Incorporated and Anne Turner Herriott serves as the 19th Southern Area Director; and

WHEREAS, the Southern Area of The Links, Incorporated consists of more than 4,500 members in 80 chapters, and its seven Mississippi entities are the Mississippi Delta, Mississippi Roses, Golden Crest, Jackson, LeFleur's Bluff, Natchez and Gulf Coast chapters, and each works independently and collectively to improve lives and communities within the State of Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, there are two women who are members of The Links, Incorporated who serve as members of the Mississippi Legislature, State Representatives Debra Hendricks Gibbs and Lataisha Jackson; and

WHEREAS, on February 20, 2019, more than 75 members of The Links, Incorporated attended the "Mississippi Links Day At the Capitol" to receive legislative updates, promote advocacy and take action as part of their commitment to criminal and social justice, political awareness, voter empowerment, and commitment to statewide civic engagement, and Dorothy Thompson and Mavis James served as co-chairs for Links Day at the Capitol; and

WHEREAS, members of the Legislature will discuss, with those attending the event, the status of legislation relating to the public policy agenda and the program initiatives of The Links, Incorporated, because "Mississippi Links Day At the Capitol" is part of a national political awareness initiative for members of The Links, Incorporated which promotes its public policy agenda and encourages visits with legislators within the states where chapters are located:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commemorate The Links, Incorporated, on the observance of the "Mississippi Links Day At the Capitol 2019" for their outstanding service to the community under the program initiative, "Transforming Communities - Fulfilling Our Purpose." BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to committee representatives of The Links, Incorporated, Mississippi chapters and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.