2024 Central Area Leadership Summit The Links Incorporated coming to Omaha

October 18, 2024

LOCAL NEWS

THE OMAHA STAR

Omaha (NE) Chapter of The Links Incorporated Hosts Leadership 
Summit for 200+ Women Dedicated to Empowering Youth, 
Addressing Social Inequities 
From Oct. 31 to Nov. 3, Hilton Omaha will become a 
vibrant hub for leadership, innovation and community 
service as Central Area of The Links, Incorporated hosts 
its Leadership Summit. 
More than 200 distinguished women from across the 
region will gather for the highly anticipated event, which 
promises a unique blend of professional development 
and a hands-on STEM-focused community initiative 
designed to empower the next generation. The summit, 
themed "Mastering The Playbook: Strategies for Excellent 
Leadership," will bring together women leaders who are 
dedicated to sharpening their leadership skills and making a lasting impact in their communities. Attendees will 
engage in a series of workshops and discussions aimed at 
building professional and personal leadership capacities. 
"What makes this summit truly special is its focus on the 
greater good---especially its commitment to addressing 
social inequities and supporting youth success," said Dr. 
Sheila R. Brown, Central Area Director of The Links. 
"We believe that literacy and social justice are directly 
connected. Limited access to books, educational resources 
and enrichment activities, especially for impoverished 
communities, are key contributors. Therefore, the Central 
Area of The Links, Incorporated has designed programming that focuses on preparing youth for success starting 
in elementary school, concentrating on a national mentoring initiative and promoting financial, artistic, international, physical, emotional and mental literacy."

Commitment to Social Justice, 
Educational Equity

In a post-pandemic world where educational disparities 
have grown, The Links, Incorporated remains at the forefront of addressing these issues. As part of their national 
commitment to social justice, summit participants also will 
focus on literacy and mentorship initiatives that reduce gaps 
in education and help marginalized youth succeed.

sion for science, technology, engineering and mathematics 
(STEM)---fields that are crucial for future success. 
STEM kits will be distributed to extend learning beyond 
the event, ensuring a lasting impact on both students and 
teachers. "We're excited to equip students with tools 
and resources that they can take home, so the learning 
doesn't stop when the field trip ends," said Tiffany 
White Welchen, President of the Omaha (NE) Chapter, 
which is leading the effort locally. 
Additionally, swag bags filled with STEM-themed items 
will ensure students continue to engage with STEM topics 
long after the event, solidifying The Links' commitment 
to nurturing the next generation of leaders and innovators.

Omaha (NE) Chapter's Leadership in 
Hosting the Summit

"Behind the scenes, the Omaha (NE) Chapter of The 
Links, Incorporated has been hard at work, organizing 
every detail of the summit to ensure a seamless and memorable experience for all attendees," White Welchen said. 
With committees dedicated to logistics, hospitality, entertainment and more, the local chapter has demonstrated 
outstanding leadership, ensuring that the Central Area 
Leadership Summit not only meets but exceeds expectations, Brown said during a planning and progress update 
meeting, which took place at Hilton Omaha Oct. 5. 
"As one of the first chapters of The Links, we are proud 
to continue our tradition of service and leadership," said 
White Welchen. "The Omaha (NE) Chapter has been a 
pillar of the organization since 1950. We're honored to 
welcome our sisters from across the Central Area and 
look forward to creating lasting memories together."

A Legacy of Service

The organization has long been an advocate for marginalized 
communities, with members nationwide contributing over 
one million volunteer hours annually to support civil rights, 
advance social causes and promote youth empowerment.

"The Omaha (NE) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated's 
commitment to service and leadership mirrors the values 
we cherish in our community," said City Councilwoman 
Juanita Johnson. "Founded in 1946, The Links, 
Incorporated has a storied history of promoting and 
engaging in educational, civic and intercultural activities. 
Their mission to enrich, sustain and ensure the culture 
and economic survival of African Americans and other 
persons of African ancestry aligns with my vision of 
strengthening African American communities, supporting women and advocating for civil rights."

Empowering Omaha's Youth Through STEM

About The Links, Incorporated

"Literacy rates are an ongoing challenge, especially for 
students in underserved communities. Our aim is to close 
that gap and inspire the next generation to thrive both 
academically and personally," said Brown.

A highlight of the summit is a STEM-focused community service project designed to inspire local students. 
In partnership with the Lozier Foundation and Prairie 
STEM Nebraska, more than 180 fourth and fifth graders 
from Kellom Elementary, King Elementary and Nelson 
Mandela Elementary schools in Omaha will participate in 
hands-on STEM activities at the Kiewit Luminarium. The 
project aims to spark creativity, critical thinking and a pas-

The Omaha (NE) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated 
was chartered on Sept. 30, 1950, making it the 6th chartered chapter and a distinguished legacy within the organization. The Omaha (NE) Chapter continues this legacy 
of service and leadership, committed to making a difference through volunteerism, philanthropy and advocacy. 
For more information, follow the chapter on Facebook 
at https://www.facebook.com/omahalinks/. The Central

Area of The Links, Incorporated is comprised of more 
than 3,800 influential women providing impactful programming in 72 communities throughout 17 states in 
"the Heart of Linkdom"---the Midwest. Central Area 
members contribute more than 225,000 documented 
service hours annually to the community by engaging 
external organizations and partnerships. 
The Links, Incorporated, established in 1946, is an international not-for-profit with over 17,000 professional 
women of African descent in 299 chapters across 41 
states, the District of Columbia, the Bahamas, and the 
UK. As one of the nation's oldest and largest volunteer 
service organizations, its members are dedicated to 
enriching and sustaining the culture and economic survival of African Americans. Links members contribute 
over 1 million hours of community service annually. For 
more information, visit www.linksinc.org. 

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