New Orleans City Council Recognizes the Pontchartrain Links and the Young Women of McDonogh #35 High School

On Thursday, February 26, 2015, young women from McDonogh #35 High School were honored by the City Council for their participation in the Pontchartrain Chapter of The Links, Incorporated's "Rising Stars" Program. Each girl was presented with a certificate and had a brief opportunity to witness city government in action by sitting in on the City Council Meeting for 45 minutes.

The honorees were accompanied by former Senator and Councilmember Diana Bajoie, Services to Youth Chair Centrell Alfred-Ewell, President Sarah Moody Thomas and other members of the Pontchartrain Chapter. The Rising Stars mentoring program strives to improve academic and social success through education, community development, and volunteerism.

Rising Star Mentor Program participants from McDonogh #35, along with Councilmember Ramsey, former Councilmember Diana Bajoie, Services to Youth Chair Centrell Ewell and other members of the Pontchartrain Chapter of  The Links, Incorporated.

District "C" Councilmember Ramsey said, "The young women from McDonough #35 High School have provided a great service to Links organization. These young women are role models for the youth of our City and an inspiration to all of us. I am proud to recognize these  outstanding young women and the Pontchartrain Chapter of the Links organization." 

Pontchartrain Chapter Serves as One of Three Hosts for 2015 Legislative Breakfast

The National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Greater New Orleans Chapter along with the Pontchartrain Chapter of The Links, Incorporated and the New Orleans Chapter of The Links, Incorporated hosted their 2015 Legislative Breakfast on Saturday, Feb. 21 from 9:30 a.m. to Noon. The event took place at the Algiers Regional Library. 

The forum, hosted at Algiers Regional Library, gave residents a chance to address New Orleans City Council members, asking for solutions to the social, economic and political disparities that directly impact the quality of life for African-Americans and other residents in New Orleans.

The Council Members were introduced by Pontchartrain Chapter member, former State Senator Diana Bajoie, chair of the National Trends and Services Committee. Pontchartrain Chapter member, WDSU News Anchor Gina Swanson, served as the moderator.

For more information about the discussion, click here.

Rising Stars Visit Touro Hospital

Pontchartrain Chapter members, along with mentees from the LINKS Reaching New Heights - Rising Stars Program, visited labs at Touro Hospital on January 13, 2015 to learn about medical laboratory science. The young ladies of the "Rising Stars" program are students at McDonogh 35 High School.

The visit included presentations from Pontchartrain Chapter member Link Lynn Bernal-Green along with other hospital staff on topics including, but not limited to, laboratory processing, the hematology laboratory, the blood bank, and microbiology.

The "Rising Star"s program was implemented at McDonogh 35 several years ago and is designed to encourage and support the academic, social and cultural development of its participants.