Ladies of The Links Join Forces with Astah's for Poster Art Show

Children from East Orange had the chance to show their work on Sunday, April 3, as the Essex County Chapter of The Links, Inc. sponsored an opening at in Maplewood.

The exhibit featured poster art centered around the phrase "Stay Fit and Trim" from students in grades 1 through 5 from the Cicely Tyson School of Performing Arts in East Orange.

Chelanda Correliant was anxious to show us her work (see picture). Some of the children's art will be selected to be shown at The Links' Eastern Area Conference in Atlantic City, NJ from April 27 - May 1, 2011.

The Links, Incorporated is an international, not-for-profit corporation, established in 1946. The membership consists of 12,000 professional women of color in 274 chapters located in 42 states, the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. According to its website, The Links "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."

Links member Linda Robinson told Patch that the Essex County Chapter consists of 29 active members and several alumae. The chapter concentrates on providing educational experiences for disadvantaged children who reside in its target service area which includes the cities of East Orange, Orange and Irvington. Other local Links programs have involved reading and writing programs, tutoring and book donations.

The Essex County Links Chapter meets every third Sunday of the month in restaurants and homes around Essex County, sometimes utilizing County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo's office in West Orange.

Those interested in joining The Links can visit the website of the national organization.