JANUARY NEWS

CROWN JEWELS LINKS COLLABORATE WITH COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOL AND CHARLOTTE MECKLENBRUG SCHOOLS TO ASSIST WITH THE TRANSFORMATION OF PERFORMANCE LEARNING CENTER’S STUDENTS FROM A TO Z

Charlotte, NC - The Crown Jewels Chapter of the Links, Inc. received a grant from the Foundation of the Carolinas to implement a Career Coaching Program at the Performance Learning Center (PLC) – a non-traditional high school in the Charlotte Mecklenburg school district providing 110 students a second chance. Biweekly, the Links and our Connecting Links deliver program curricula teaching life-skills to students that experienced challenges in traditional school-settings. The curriculum, which includes topics such as self-awareness - using the Myers Briggs Personality Profile Test, decision-making, and career-choices expose students to higher-level thinking to encourage healthy decisions.

The program began last January with 14 at-risk girls and has expanded to 25 students including girls and boys. “We saw a noticeable difference in the disposition in the young ladies that participate in this program last year” said PLC Principal Sherry Sigmon.

Recently members of the International Trends Facets provided students with airport and Passport information and hosted a game of Travel Jeopardy on countries including South Africa, Egypt, and Jamaica. An international tour center area created with flags and memorabilia along with food-tasting stations allowed students to become engaged and knowledgeable of international travel. An upcoming session will feature career choices with a panel discussion.

FEBRUARY
Links, Inc. Crown Jewels Chapter 4th Annual Mardi Gras Gala

click here for photos

CHARLOTTE, NC – The Crown Jewels Chapter of Links, Inc. held its 4th Annual Mardi Gras Gala on Saturday, February 9, 2008 at the Blake Hotel at 555 S. McDowell Street. Proceeds from the fundraising event supports many of the community activities sponsored by the Crown Jewels Chapter, such as providing scholarships to high school students, and implementation of a mentoring program at the Performance Learning Center, a Charlotte-Mecklenburg high school that gives students a second chance at an education. The organization also donates to an endowment fund for Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

The gala featured southern Cajun cuisine, a live auction, a silent auction and entertainment. Throughout the evening, guests bid on many silent auction items including framed art, gift baskets, dinner certificates, Romare Bearden books, and jewelry. A prize auction item of the evening was dinner for six prepared at the winners home by Chef Marvin Woods of Woods on South.

“The Gala affords us the opportunity to share the festive spirit of Mardi Gras with our friends, family and supporters while also raising money for community initiatives”, said Lyn Coaldwell Fundraising Chairperson.