Chapter History

Chartered on December 8, 1958, on the campus of Alabama State University, the Montgomery (AL) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated holds a proud legacy of transformative service and civic leadership. Founded by 21 visionary African American women—educators, activists, and key figures in the Montgomery Bus Boycott—the chapter emerged from a shared commitment to uplift their community through friendship and service.

Inspired by the national mission of The Links, Incorporated and the leadership of Montgomery native and national officer Link Bessie B. Nelms, these women—guided by Dr. Mary Fair Burks—formed an interest group that was chartered one year later with sponsorship by the Birmingham (AL) Chapter. Leola Whitted served as the first chapter president.

The distinguished charter members were: Cynthia Alexander, Thelma Anderson, Sadie Brooks, Maggie Daniels, Faustine Dunn, Thelma Glass, Fannie Jones, Annie Lowe, Thelma Morris, Ive Pettus, Zoeline Pierce, Betty Pindle, Willease Simpson, Cleoni Taylor, Portia Trenholm, Ruth Vines, Fannie Nelms Wright, and civil rights icons Coretta Scott King and Jo Ann Robinson.

For more than six decades, the Montgomery Chapter has advanced its mission with intention and impact. Now composed of more than 40 dedicated members, the chapter contributes hundreds of service hours annually to initiatives that reflect its guiding principle: Legacy in Action—Serving Families, Empowering Youth, Transforming Communities.

Signature programs span all five national program facets, with notable distinction in Services to Youth and Health and Human Services. A flagship initiative, Project Lead: High Expectations, offered mentorship and enrichment for girls, fostering academic excellence and personal growth. Another standout, Let’s Move: Kids Taking Charge—Linking Healthy Minds with Healthy Bodies (“Fit For Fun”), engaged 22 third-grade girls and their mothers or guardians in a four-year journey of fitness, nutrition, etiquette, and self-care. Activities included summer camps, fitness classes, wellness workshops, and puberty-focused conversations with a pediatrician and a dermatologist. A memorable highlight was attending a Montgomery Symphony Orchestra performance—affirming the chapter’s commitment to holistic development. Years later, most participants went on to college and continued healthy habits.

Beyond these cornerstone efforts, the chapter has hosted youth art exhibits, promoted literacy, educated high school students on the importance of voting, established clothes closets, and “adopted” a local primary school and middle school. Partnerships with the Montgomery Symphony Orchestra and Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts have elevated access to the arts and culture.

Rooted in the civil rights legacy of its founders and fueled by a vision for continued impact, the Montgomery (AL) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated exemplifies friendship, service, and leadership. With each initiative, the chapter reaffirms its enduring mission—to change lives, uplift communities, and shape a brighter future for the next generation.