House Resolution 26

A RESOLUTION COMMEMORATING THE LINKS, INCORPORATED, ON THE OBSERVANCE OF THE "MISSISSIPPI LINKS DAY AT THE CAPITOL 2020" FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.

WHEREAS, The Links, Incorporated, is an international, not-for-profit corporation founded in 1946 with more than 16,000 members in 288 chapters located in 41 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of the Bahamas and the United Kingdom, and seven chapters are located in the State of Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, The Links, Incorporated, is one of the nation's oldest and largest volunteer service organization 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, the key programming initiatives of The Links, Incorporated, are organized into five facets: Services to Youth, The Arts, National Trends and Services, International Trends and Services, and Health and Human Services; and

WHEREAS, Kimberly Jeffries Leonard, Ph.D., serves as the 17th National President of The Links, Incorporated, and Sylvia Perry serves as the 20th 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 three 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 State Senator Tammy Witherspoon; and

WHEREAS, on February 19, 2020, 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 serving Mississippi, and Representative Debra Hendricks Gibbs served as Mississippi Coordinator for Links Day at the Capitol; and

WHEREAS, the Southern Area of The Links, Incorporated, supports legislation that focuses on closing the gap in foster care across Mississippi to provide interventions to support foster youth in preparing to transition from the foster system to independent living, ensuring an accurate and fair 2020 Census, supporting Pre-K expansion for Mississippi children, increasing access to quality and affordable healthcare with an emphasis on breast cancer detection and treatment, increased support to combat human trafficking, and commitment to statewide civic engagement; 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, That we do hereby commemorate The Links, Incorporated, on the observance of the "Mississippi Links Day at the Capitol 2020" for their outstanding service to the community and their day of advocacy, as they strive to serve Mississippi as "Agents of Change, Advocates of Action."

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.