Portland Chapter of The Links History Book

Visiting Link, Toni Hunter, Elaine Jamison Lydia R. Roy, Addie Jean Haynes, Myrna-Yvonne Williams

Freddye Prophet introducing Marian Sutherland (Seattle, WA Chapter) Clementyne T. Guy (left) and Freddye Prophet (right) with visiting Link

LEADERSHIP 49

Early on, The Links donated books to local libraries and other organizations.

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I n Linkdom, facets are program dimensions. e Links introduced at the 13th National Assembly in 1962. Assembly
have created dynamic transformational programs that delegates added National Trends & Services to the National
change and enrich the lives of people in the communities Program and it was officially adopted at the 14th National
we serve. Education for Democracy was the theme of the rst Assembly in 1964.
National Program. It was a four-year effort focused on Freedom and e Arts, later became e Arts, the third
providing resources to students, such as scholarships, nancial facet. e Arts Facet was introduced at the 14th Assembly and
aid, tutoring, cultural enrichment, and more. endorsed at the 15th Assembly in 1966.
In 1958, Link Bernice Munce became the Initiator of Links As our concerns took on a global view about human rights,
Programs for Services to Youth. us, the rst facet, Services International Trends & Services was added in 1978 at the 21st
to Youth, was launched at the 10th National Assembly. In National Assembly.
addition to academic readiness, Services to Youth expanded to With the increasing issue of health disparities and its impact
include career development, youth making right choices, on the well-being of people in the African American
education attainment, and STEM education. Links were community, Health & Human Services was voted the fth
involved in sponsoring programs that addressed the range of facet at the 36th Assembly in 2010. rough the Service
factors impacting the quality of life for youth. In response to Delivery Model, transformational programs are implemented
broader societal concerns about civil and human rights and in addressing current issues affecting our communities.
democratic freedom, the National Trends & Services Facet was

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SIGNATURE PROGRAMS

T here are seven Signature Programs: Project LEAD High Expectations; Links
to Success; Classics rough the Ages; Walk for Healthy Living; Education
Across the Miles—Africa and Jamaica; and Linkages to Life and Heartlinks.
Signature Programs are National Programs designed and implemented by e Links to
address emerging or current issues, concerns, and needs that impact the lives of a
target population within the global Black community. Between 2014 and 2019, new
National Initiatives designed to respond to critical issues were HBCUs, Mentoring,
STEM, HIV/AIDS, Mental Health, and Oral Health.

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SERVICES TO YOUTH

A s an integrated approach to preparing youth for You(TH) for two years. e program was chaired by Link
the 21st Century workforce, e Links created its Elaine Hartzog. In 2008, STY Chair, Link Kimberly Matier
rst program—Services to Youth—to equip hosted a Career Exploration Fair for students in grades 7–12
African American children to use their intellect and spirit of in 11 schools. Program components included interactive
achievement to compete. learning experiences, an internship program, interviews, and a
In the 1960s, the Youth in the Sixties theme was stressed in reception with Links and sponsors. Lego Robotics was
all program facets and emphasis was placed on Services to introduced at Rosemary Anderson High School in 2014 under
Youth. In the late ’70s and ’80s, Project LEAD (Links Erasing the leadership of Link Vanessa Morgan. In addition to STEM
Alcohol & Drugs) was strongly supported by Portland Public skills, students developed critical thinking and problem-
Schools and Connecting Link Matthew Prophet, PPS solving skills which enabled them to participate in tournament
Superintendent. e program was based at Whitaker and competitions. Steam Power PDX, a NSBEJr STEM Program,
Ockley Green Middle Schools. Rosemary Anderson High began at Faubion Elementary School in 2018 under the
School (RAHS) participated in the Umbrella Program Healthy leadership of STY Chair, Link Natalie Hooper.

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STEAM PDX Faubion Elementary School STEAM PDX Faubion Elementary School

STEAM PDX Faubion Elementary School STEAM PDX Faubion Elementary School

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Backpack Giveaway Schoolhouse Supply 2009
Barbara Leonard, Jacquelyn N. Brown, Elaine Hartzog, Johnnie Stokes,
Karis Stoudamire holding her son, Michael Jr, Serena Ashley, Barbara Ward

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Bio-Tech Class Jefferson High School STEM Jefferson High School

STEM Jefferson High School Logo Robotics Rosemary Anderson High School

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NSBE Jr 2018
Myrna-Yvonne Williams, Barbara Ward, Estella Brame, René DuBoise, Natalie Hooper, Serena Ashley,

Kymberlee Crowell, Johnnie Stokes, Linda J. Harris with Faubion Elementary School students

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60

STARLIGHT
COTILLION

I nspired by Links Jeanne Hartzog and Rochelle McElroy, the Starlight Cotillion
began as a Services to Youth project in 1978 and continued until 1992. e
Cotillion served to ll a void in the Black community by celebrating High School
seniors who personi ed the Portland Chapter’s Standard of Excellence. e Chapter
also wanted to provide youth with a knowledge base in terms of career options,
professional preparedness, and recognition of academic accomplishments to foster
continued involvement in cultural and civic affairs as life-long endeavors.
e program rst identi ed Seniors with a GPA of 2.5 and higher. Next, there were
scheduled meetings, the selection of volunteers, and nally, dance instructors were
chosen. Workshops included presentations on college entrance exams, nancial aid,
economic and political issues impacting Black youth, and employment processes.
e Cotillion is remembered as one of the most beautiful galas in Portland. Ten to

fteen girls were presented each year to the community. eir escorts attended local
high schools and colleges. Co-Sponsors of the Cotillion were e Urban League, e
Black Colleges Committee, and the United Negro College Fund Portland.

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Having been selected as a debutante based on academic achievement, school,
and civic involvement, the Starlight Cotillion served as a “rite of passage”
presenting young women to the Portland community. With chosen escorts,
these young people were some of the best and brightest teens in Portland, proudly
representing their schools, and all were supported by their families and community.
We hope that you have fond memories of your experiences, being selected as a Deb
and escort, making new friends, learning about colleges and scholarships, practicing
deep curtsies and the Cotillion Waltz, having make-up applied, being photographed,
attending Sunday afternoon meetings and rehearsals, selling ads, attending Charm
classes, shopping for your out ts, and of course, participating in the Starlight Cotillion
and its pageantry.
As a result of a community service project as Bell Ringers for the Salvation Army
during Christmas, e Links received an Appreciation Certi cate for Debs helping to
brighten the lives of others during the 1983 Christmas season. As a cultural event,
Links Teas were held at various locations over the years. Cotillion Souvenir Books and
photographs document this timeless event in Links’ history and we appreciate our
Heir-O-Links and their families for being a part of it.

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64

Cotillion Waltz 1987

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Debutantes poised and elegant as they
wait to be escorted to the Cotillion Ball

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Gentlemen looking dashing before they escort the debutantes to the Cotillion Ball
Standing sixth from left is Zachary Stokes

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Chapter members smiling proudly at the Cotillion Ball 1981

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Chapter members smiling proudly at the Cotillion Ball 1983

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70

K athryn Bogle, beautiful Charter
Member, with Connecting Link
Richard, enjoying an evening at
the Sixth Annual Cotillion Ball held in
the ballroom at the Red Lion Motor Inn,
Jantzen Beach, February 13, 1983.

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THE ARTS

T hroughout the world, e Links, Incorporated ages in the performing and visual arts by 2000. In 1986, e
partners with museums, symphonies, arts councils, Arts and Services to Youth Facets held a Multi-Cultural
educational institutions, and corporations to support, Program at the Portland Art Museum and donated an artifact
expand, and elevate art programs and activities. e Arts, Arts on exhibit in the Cameroon Room. at same year, the
Festivals and Youth were the primary focus of e Portland Portland Chapter donated instruments and presented a check
Chapter in early years. On April 12, 1959, a Foreign Students’ to Boise-Eliot School.
Tea was held at the YWCA. In 1968, the Links “Festival of the Over the years, the Arts Committee has participated in the
Arts Collection” was on exhibit in eight model Portland Public Signature Program: Classics through the Ages (CTA) and has
Schools. In 1980, the chapter won an award for the Festival of won awards for their efforts. From 1997 to 1999, a two-year
the Visual & Performing Arts Cultural Fair, chaired by Links project, Art Exposure: Family Film Festival, featured videos
Lydia R. Roy of e Arts Facet and Rochelle McElroy of and lms shown at Self-Enhancement, Inc. Led by Link Pat
International Trends & Services Facet. Five “Celebration of the Walker, the project was underwritten by Self-Enhancement
Arts” Showcases were presented to talented young people of all Incorporated (SEI) with lms shown at SEI.

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Bernadette Plummer, Mildred Reynolds, Annetta Brown, Foreign Student, June Brown and Marjorie Brown
Foreign Student

Fannie Stills Chatman and Cheryl Brown Mildred Reynolds

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Afro American
Bicentennial Quilt Exhibit

Kathryn Bogle, Quilt
Committee Member, and

Julian Bond pleased to
see quilt block depicting

Fisk and the Jubilee
Singers made by
June Brown.

Beneath his left elbow is
a block in honor of

Leontyne Price made by
Rebecca Miller.

The quilt was
autographed by
Leontyne Price.

July 8, 1976
Oregon Historical

Society Building

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Addie Jean Haynes presents a check to Richard Menefee for the Boise/Eliot School Band. The Links also
presented the school with instruments to help the school have a marching band. Looking on are Freddye Prophet;
Glenn Ludtke, Band Director; Betty Campbell, Principal; Jeanne Hartzog; Mildred Reynolds; Yvonne Williams; and Lydia R. Roy

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Reception for Jacob Lawrence at Portland Art Museum 1984

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O ne of the highlights of e Links 1988 program year was to co-host a
reception for artist Jonathan Green, at the Interstate Firehouse Cultural
Center. Jonathan is a native of the South Carolina Barrier Islands which is
home to the Gullah people, descendants from the people of West Africa’s Gold Coast.
Jonathan paints about his childhood. His paintings are rich, vibrant, and imbued in
timeless traditions of story lines from the community of the Gullah society.
Green’s work has been widely exhibited in the United States and has been placed in
the permanent collections of several museums, including the Morris Museum in
Augusta, Georgia; the Afro-American Museum in Philadelphia; the Naples, Florida
Museum of Art; and the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center in Portland, OR.

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Tales by Jonathan Green 1988, Oil on masonite, 24" x 36"
Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center, Portland, OR

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W ith Link Jacquelyn N. Brown as Arts Chair, e Gee’s Bend Quilt
Makers from Boykin, AL demonstrated their skills at Rosemary
Anderson High School. e following day, students made a quilt with
the quilt makers’ assistance. e quilt was displayed in the Portland Art Museum for
several weeks, then auctioned off with proceeds going to the school.
In 2016, with Link Maria Jackson as Chair, e Arts Facet participated in the
Signature Program: Classics rough the Ages. Lyric Branch became the rst student
to be mentored under the CTA program. She excelled as a dancer while enrolled in the
Jefferson High School Dance Program.
e Arts Facet partnered with the Tacoma (WA) Chapter in 2018 in having student
artists interact with each other. Mentors were identi ed to work with Grant High
School art student, Sydney Rawls, on her arts discipline, acrylic painting. Sydney
graduated from Grant High School with a major in Fashion Product Development
and Ethnic Studies.

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Charlotte Ned, Johnnie Stokes, Gee’s Bend Quilters 2007
Rosemary Anderson High School/POIC students 2007

Quilt makers at Rosemary Anderson High School Quilt makers at Rosemary Anderson High School

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Jacquelyn N. Brown, Karis Stoudemire, Student Artist Lyric Branch, Maria Jackson, Johnnie Stokes, Estella Brame

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Portland Art Museum partnership designed to give the student artist the opportunity to have
four years of visual arts exploration with access to courses, art institutions, and mentors.

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Student Artist, Sydney Rawls displays some of her acrylic paintings.
The words on the following page were written by Sydney in her final report along with some of her favorite works of art.

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NATIONAL
TRENDS & SERVICES

T he vision of National Trends & Services is to eliminate disparities and
inequity that affect millions of people of color through advocacy and
education. In the early ’60s, e Links partnered with the NAACP Legal
Defense Fund. Links made donations to the Northwest YWCA Showers for Shelters
(Domestic Violence Shelter for Women and Children) and Winter Shelter for the
homeless. e chapter participated in the National Links, Blanket of Hope project,
with the distribution of green blankets donated to several agencies and groups. Blue
Jeans were donated to the Janis House for Teens. During the winter, gloves, scarves,
and hats were presented to the Rafael House for abused women, coordinated by Link
Rhonda omas.
Since 2003, e Links have devoted a Day of Service at the Annual Martin Luther
King, Jr. Tribute. From our information table, it presents an opportunity for Links to
register voters, discuss upcoming Galas, and hand out Links brochures.

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Jeans donated to Janis House for Teens Voter registration at Albertsons Grocery
Standing: Linda J. Harris; Seated in back: Serena Ashley, Sylvia Welch, Yvonne Willams, René DuBoise, Betty Cabine

Johnnie Broadous; Seated in front: Elaine Hartzog, Yvonne Williams

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I n 2005, Western Area Director,
Sandra Dorsey Malone, initiated the
Doris “Dorie” Miller Campaign. Links
signed the American Citizen’s Call-to-Action
to urge the US Congress to pass legislation
to posthumously award the Congressional
Medal of Honor to WWII Hero Sailor
Doris Miller. Mr. Miller’s niece, Wynona
Jackson Lowe, who resides in Portland,
attended the 2005 Ebony Fashion Fair and
manned the Doris Miller Campaign Table.

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T he Portland Chapter of e Links began working with the League of Women
Voters (LWV) in 2013. Our partnership with the LWV has included
conducting Voter Registration Drives and attending a Multnomah County
hearing on Justice. Link Johnnie Broadous attended an Immigration Ceremony with
the LWV in 2011 at the Federal Court House. Another legislative activity has involved
e Links annual trip to Salem with the Urban League of Portland to observe
legislative actions that have either passed or are in progress. e visit serves to enhance
our civic engagement by observing lawmakers’ interactions in chambers.

Voter Registration 2012 Voter Registration at SEI 2019
Member from LWV, Johnnie Broadous, Kimberlin Butler, Standing: Myrna-Yvonne Williams, Linda J. Harris,
Harriet Adair; Seated: Johnnie Broadous, Johnnie Stokes
Myrna-Yvonne Williams; Seated: Lydia R. Roy Standing to the right is a visitor signing up to vote

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Back Row: Two members from LWV, Johnnie Broadous, Serena Ashley, JoAnn Hardesty Portland City Commissioner, Kymberlee Crowell
Front Row: Myrna-Yvonne Williams, Harriet Adair, Stephanie Montgomery, Lydia R. Roy

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Johnnie Stokes, Barbara Ward, Myrna-Yvonne Williams, Kelly Michael, Estella Brame, Jacquelyn N. Brown, Carla Penn-Hopson,
Linda J. Harris, Serena Ashley Sylvia Welch, Linda J. Harris, Myrna-Yvonne Williams, Marian Gilmore

Barbara Ward, Johnnie Stokes, Carla Penn-Hopson Johnnie Broadous, René DuBoise, Carla Penn-Hopson

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I n 2015, e Links and the LWV sponsored the forum, Is participating in anti-sex trafficking training at Warner Paci c
Justice Blind? Racism in Oregon’s Criminal Justice University and Portland City School.
System. e program was supported by a grant from In 2020, e Links created Call-to-Action Voter Registration
the Multnomah Bar Association. Drives pushing the campaign, WhenWeAllVote.org, that
In working to protect our voting rights, under National focused on our voting strengths in making a difference in
President Glenda Newell-Harris’ administration, October voting outcomes. Our chapter members each had to reach out
2016 was designated as Voter Education Month in Linkdom. to family and friends to increase voter participation. A Voting
Voter Education Czars were charged with the primary Call Chain was created for Voter Czars like Linda Harris, and
responsibility of facilitating all aspects of the inaugural our chapter scheduled a Virtual Voting event held for chapter
program. e theme was Our Vote, Our Power, Our Time, members during the month of October 2020.
Our Charge. In addition to continuing our yearly practice of Over the years, our partnership with the LWV has enabled
registering voters, our chapter ramped up our efforts by us to keep abreast of local legislative issues that impact the
developing a Get-Out-e-Vote Campaign. community and most recently, issues that are pertinent to the
In 2018, Link Carla Penn-Hopson hosted a book club lives and well-being of Black people such as “police reform”.
meeting for members at her home after reading Anybody’s Link Carol Johnson was a panelist on the LWV’s Police
Daughter by Pamela Samuels Young in support of Western Oversight and Accountability Panel Discussion on a virtual
Area’s NTS committee’s Sex Trafficking Initiative. is event webinar on April 13, 2021. For those who missed the live
was followed by NTS and ITS Chairs and Co-chairs program, a recording was available on the League’s website.

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Debbie Kaye, Chair of the LWV
Trustees, wrote a beautiful letter
to Link Linda J. Harris on her
involvement with the League. She
conducted two studies on police reform.
e rst study provided an extended
abstract of “21st Century Policing”, a
Task Force created in 2015 by President
Obama following the fatal shooting of
Michael Brown. ere were 59
recommendations and 92 action items. In
the second study, she provided a summary
account of wrongful death settlements by
the Portland Police Bureau.

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74th Oregon Legislative Assembly 2007
Senate Bill 931 Sponsored by Senator Margaret Carter; Senators Monnes, Anderson, Morrisette

(at the request of Myrna-Yvonne Williams for The Childhood Obesity Initiative)

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Deltas join Links Marian Gilmore (second from left), Margaret Carter (third from left),
Johnnie Broadous (fifth from left), Myrna-Yvonne Williams (sixth from left)

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INTERNATIONAL
TRENDS & SERVICES

T he goal of International Trends & Services is to provide opportunities for
tangible service in other countries. is facet uses a “boots on the ground”
approach to assist and improve the lives of women, children, and men
worldwide through long-term programs that are committed to empowerment and
public policy leadership. Locally, our chapter made donations to the United Nations
International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and volunteered time at a
UNICEF table at Lloyd Center Mall. We contributed African Art Exhibits on United
Nations Day and made blanket donations to the Immigrant and Refugee Community
Organization (IRCO) under the leadership of Link Betty Cabine.
Our chapter has supported National’s Initiatives focused on Africa and Haiti. Link
Marian Gilmore led the Healthy Birth Initiative—Mamma Kits—a clean and safe
child delivery care kit. is initiative began in Uganda in 2003 with the support of the
World Health Organization and e Links. We also made contributions to the
School-in-a-Box Initiative for Rwanda.

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