About Oakland County Links
Our History
The Oakland County (MI) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated (OCC Links) is one of 300+ chapters in one of the oldest and largest volunteer service organizations of professional women of color with over 16,000 members worldwide. Our Chapter was chartered May 17, 1981.
For 40+ years our Chapter has actively worked to enrich the lives of those we serve in Oakland County, specifically in the Pontiac Community. Our fundraising efforts have helped to create transformational programming, including establishing a reading room at the Pontiac Public Library, equipping a classroom at the Women’s Survival Center in Pontiac; ACT and standardized test-taking tutoring; financial literacy training; Model United Nations team tutoring and sponsorship; health and wellness fairs. In the Pontiac senior community, we have provided computer training, physical and fiscal fitness programs and wellness classes.
Through the generous support of our sponsors, donors, friends, and members the Oakland County Links have donated to the Pontiac Middle School high tech, interactive flat screens, established a clothes closet filled with school uniforms for the students (that is restocked throughout the year), provided a washer and dryer, sponsored a field trip to “The Lion King” play, collaborated with students, staff and community leaders to create a vegetable garden in the school courtyard, organized an annual school-wide Christmas party with over 500 children in attendance. In 2020 and 2021 we had to pivot and host the party and all other school events virtually including a visit to outer space with the first African American man in space, Dr. Bernard Harris. In addition to Pontiac, the Oakland County Links has expanded our reach to Birney Elementary School in Southfield providing band instruments and STEAM activities throughout the school year.
Our chapter members have actively helped in spearheading education and healthcare initiatives for schools in Jamaica and The Republic of Ghana.