The Capital City (DC) Chapter of The Links, Inc. 45th Anniversary Celebration Program
ROOTED IN FRIENDSHIP, RISING IN SERVICE
Celebrating 45 Years of Leadership, Legacy and Lasting Impact of Extraordinary Women
The Capital City (DC) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated
ROOTED IN FRIENDSHIP, RISING IN SERVICE
Celebrating 45 Years of Leadership, Legacy and Lasting Impact of Extraordinary Women
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2025 11:00AM
Omni Shoreham Hotel 2500 Calvert Street Northwest Washington, DC 20008
October 11, 2025
Greetings:
I am delighted to congratulate the Capital City (DC) Chapter of the Links, Incorporated on your 45th Anniversary!
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Today’s celebratory luncheon themed “Rooted in Friendship, Rising in Service” aptly re ects this chapter’s unwavering commitment to service, sisterhood and impact in the Washington, D.C. community. Led by President Michelle Bernard and leadership team, the dedicated, accomplished women of the Capital City Chapter sel essly share their time, talents and resources to enrich the lives of individuals and families today and provide a strong foundation for creating an even brighter tomorrow. Your particular emphasis on Wards 7 and 8 of the District is commendable and underscores your willingness to meet the community where they are with a wide range of relevant services and programs. For example, “Links to a Second Chance” Advice and Referral Clinic, is a partnership with the DC Pro Bono Center which provides free legal assistance to individuals through volunteer lawyers. The “Black Teens in Focus” signature program addresses mental health and wellness among Black adolescents in the community. Education and exposure to the arts is offered in a variety of ways including screening and community lms produced by Black lmmakers such as Ava DuVernay. The chapter’s strong support for education includes providing educational programming on college admissions and nancial aid and raising thousands of dollars for HBCUs, and it has been recognized for Collaborative Programming in Jamaica. These are just a few examples of the innovative, transformational programming and initiatives through which the Capital City Chapter and its members are positively impacting the health, strength, and quality of life in our communities!
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Kudos to all the members of the Capital City Chapter for serving with excellence and providing an outstanding example of what our organization stands for. I want to join you in today’s recognition of the extraordinary contributions that Black women have made, and continue to make, to the culture, vibrancy and civic leadership of the world, our country, and the Washington, D.C. community. Congratulations to all!
It is notable, that even in celebrating the Capital City Chapter is serving. Proceeds from this luncheon and anniversary will fund scholarships for students attending HBCUs and expand community programs, especially in Wards 7 and 8. We appreciate the many community partners that the chapter has for its programming, and we thank everyone who purchased tickets, provided a sponsorship or donated in support of this luncheon. Your generosity is an investment in building a stronger community through the works of this chapter.
We salute the Capital City Chapter for reaching this signi cant milestone in the life of your vibrant chapter. The community which you serve, and our national organization are better and stronger because of you. Please enjoy today’s festivities as you, your families and community partners celebrate your good works! May God bless you and
yours.
In Friendship & Service
Shuana Tucker-Sims, Ph.D.
National Vice President
The Links, Incorporated
October 11, 2025
Greetings Link Sisters, Guests and Supporters,
I am elated to congratulate the members of the Capital City (DC) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated on its 45th Anniversary Celebration!
For 45 years, this chapter has been at the helm of numerous vital service projects serving the Washington, DC community. As we laud nearly half a century of impactful domestic and international programming - focusing on youth, the arts, health and issues of the day - the Capital City (DC) chapter ’s legacy of friendship and service is enduring.
While we enjoy this afternoon of fellowship and fun that will support academic scholarships and community service programs, we not only reflect on all the chapter has accomplished, but join them in honoring six extraordinary women: Dr. Carlotta Miles; Kim Jordan; A’Lelia Bundles; Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie; Dr. Jeanne Sinkford; and the Honorable Barbara Jean Lee. These honorees embody the commitment of our beloved organization to respond to the civic, educational and cultural needs of our communities.
I know that the friends and supporters of the Capital City (DC) Chapter join me in applauding President Michelle D. Bernard and the entire chapter membership on this wonderful event and and their outstanding endeavors. As they celebrate 45 years, we celebrate the great work of this chapter that continues to sustain the rich legacy of our co-founders Margaret Rosell Hawkins and Sarah Strickland Scott.
Thank you, Capital City (DC) Links, for all you have done and all you will do for the Washington, DC community. May you always be “Linked In Friendship, Connected In Service!” Congratulations again.
Yours in friendship and service,
Kimberly Jeffries Leonard, Ph.D. 17th National President
October 7, 2025
Madam President and the Members of the Capital City (DC) Chapter
I am delighted to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the Capital City (DC) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, as you celebrate your 45th anniversary. Your chapter's remarkable impact in the District of Columbia is evident through your unwavering dedication to service and community empowerment.
Your distinguished contributions are highlighted by the recent recognition from the District of Columbia, awarding you for your exceptional efforts in addressing food security and promoting environmental justice at HBCUs. Additionally, achieving first place under the Facet of International Trends and Services at the 2024 National Assembly, alongside your partnership with the Eastern Area Program of Advocacy through the Arts, underscores your significant influence and leadership.
This milestone celebration is a testament to your chapter’s steadfast commitment to friendship and service. The grace, elegance, and purpose demonstrated in your programming are a reflection of the enduring principles upon which our sisterhood is founded.
May this commemorative occasion be filled with joy, camaraderie, and renewed inspiration as you continue to strengthen the bonds of friendship and advance the mission of The Links, Incorporated. The Eastern Area proudly acknowledges your legacy and eagerly anticipates supporting you as you continue to shape lives, empower communities, and leave a lasting impact on history.
In Friendship and Service
Lisa Loury Lomas, Ph.D.
Lisa Loury Lomas
Lisa Loury Lomas, Ph.D. Eastern Area Director
October 11, 2025
Dear Members of the Capital City (DC) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated and Guests,
With a heart full of gratitude and an unwavering commitment to our sacred work, I write to thank you for joining us in celebration of a remarkable milestone—the 45th Anniversary of the Capital City (DC) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated. This afternoon, we honor four and a half decades of sisterhood, service, and the extraordinary women whose vision and labor have transformed lives and uplifted our community.
Our story began on August 9, 1979, when visionary organizer Savanna Clark and a circle of 28 charter members— Althea Adams, Gill Bass, Derosette H. Blunt, Alice Bowie Coleman, Claudia Carter, Peggy Cooper Cafritz, Savanna M. Clark, Doris Eiland, Frances Flippen, Earline Freeman, Marilyn Funderburk, Opal Marie Hyde, Cernoria D. Johnson, Blanche Jordan Tyree, Hilda Mason, Marguerite Mazique, Mildred S. Morse, Sondra Norrell-Thomas, Virginia Oldham, Francella T. Press, Laura Rowe Brantley, Lillian Butler, Elsie W. Bryant, Estelle Taylor, Lynnette Taylor, Barbara Watson, Pearl Watson, Nola W. Washington, Fay DeShields Webber, and Carol Webster. They believed, as we still do, that the collective power of Black women rooted in friendship, fortified by purpose, and guided by service—can change the world.
Since that founding moment, the Capital City (DC) Chapter has remained steadfast in its mission to enrich, sustain, and ensure the cultural and economic survival of African Americans and people of African ancestry. Through the decades, our work has taken many forms—health education and prevention initiatives; youth development and mentorship; and partnerships that bridge generations and strengthen families. From early health programs and the Infant High-School Mothers Program to our adoption of the Thompson Quintuplets and creation of the Intergenerational Computer Learning Program with Verizon and Friendship House, we have met the needs of our community with both compassion and innovation.
Our commitment to nurturing youth leadership continues through our Black Teens in Focus initiative, a transformative program that amplifies the voices of young people as they explore identity, purpose, and the power of civic engagement. Likewise, our signature arts initiative—Transforming Communities Through the Arts—celebrates the creative spirit that defines our people, using art as a catalyst for education, healing, and empowerment. Whether hosting performances, supporting local artists, or sponsoring cultural enrichment experiences, we affirm that art is not only expression—it is activism.
We have also made an indelible mark globally through the work of our International Trends and Services Facet, which earned national recognition for the chapter’s exemplary service in Jamaica. Our partnerships abroad have extended The Links’ mission beyond borders, improving access to education, healthcare, and community resources for children and families. Through this work, we honor our global heritage and reaffirm our shared humanity with our sisters and brothers across the diaspora.
Our legacy of excellence has been recognized with numerous honors, including the Outstanding “Best Practices” Award in 2020, affirming that our work continues to inspire, innovate, and impact. Yet even as we celebrate this history, we know that our greatest work lies ahead. The challenges of our time demand the same vision, courage, and unity that have guided us since 1979.
To my sisters in service, past and present, and to our friends and guests who stand with us tonight—thank you. You are part of this living legacy. Let us honor our past by shaping a future worthy of it. Let us continue to lift as we climb—with love, purpose, and the unbreakable power of Black womanhood.
With gratitude and pride,
Michelle D. Bernard President
Capital City (DC) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated
October 11, 2025
Greetings,
On behalf of the members of the Capital City (DC) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, I extend heartfelt greetings and a warm welcome as we celebrate 45 years of friendship and service. This milestone is a testament to our Chapter’s enduring commitment to uplifting our community, empowering women, and strengthening the bonds that unite us through service and sisterhood.
As Vice President, I am deeply honored to serve alongside an extraordinary group of women who continue to uphold the vision of our Founders with passion, excellence, and purpose. Over the past 45 years, Capital City (DC) Chapter has made an indelible impact supporting youth, advancing health equity, advocating for social justice, and enriching the cultural fabric of our community.
Today, we not only honor our history, but also look to the future. The work ahead calls for the same creativity, courage, and compassion that have guided us since our founding. Together, we will continue to innovate in service, inspire through leadership, and invest in the generations to come.
Thank you for joining us in this celebration and for your continued support of our programs and initiatives. May this occasion remind us of the power of friendship and the joy found in serving others.
In friendship and service,
Alicia J. Batts
Vice President Capital City (DC) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20515
ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
October 4th, 2025
GREETINGS!
Welcome to all attending the 45th Anniversary of the Capital City (DC) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated celebration.
This year’s theme, “Rooted in Friendship, Rising in Service ,” is a vital message in today’s political climate. It reminds us of the critical role we have in coming together for the uplifting of our communities and our nation.
I commend the Capital City Chapter of The Links, Incorporated , for your consistent focus on addressing the long-term and immediate needs of the residents of the District of Columbia. Your dedication and commitment to excellence is clearly reflected in your great work.
My best wishes to all for an outstanding celebration and continued success in your important work for future generations!
Sincerely,
Eleanor Holmes Norton
The Capital City (DC) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated
Chapter Organizer: Savanna Clark
First Chapter President: Savanna Clark
Charter Members: Althea Adams, Gill Bass, Derosette Blunt, Laura Rowe-Brantley, Elsie Bryant, Lillian Butler, Peggy Cooper-Cafritz, Claudia Carter, Alice Coleman, Doris Eiland, Frances Flippen, Marilyn Funderburk, Opal Hyde, Cenona Johnson, Blanche Tyree, Hilda Mason, Marguerite Mazique, Mildred Morse, Sondra Norell-Thomas, Virginia Oldham, Francella Press, Estelle Taylor, Lynnette Taylor, Barbara Watson, Pearl Watson, Fay Webber, Carol Webster, Nola Washington
Awards:
• Eastern Area Award April 2025
• National Award: First Prize, International Trends and Services for Collaborative Programming, 2024
• University of the District of Columbia Program on Food Insecurity and Environmental Justice at HBCUs and Connected Communities “Service Award” for leadership in addressing hunger and environmental justice (2024)
• National Award: Outstanding “Best Practices” in 2020
The Birth of a Vision: The Capital City (DC) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated
From its founding to this very day, the Capital City (DC) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated has stood as a testament to the transformative power of Black women’s leadership: visionary, unyielding, and grounded in service. For fortyfive years, our chapter has modeled excellence in advocacy, education, and community uplift. We have been a bridge between struggle and triumph, carrying forward the great moral mandate of The Links, Incorporated: to serve, to empower, and to lead.
When the Capital City Chapter was chartered on August 9, 1979, Washington, D.C. was in the midst of a profound reckoning. The nation’s capital, home to the dreamers and drum majors of justice, was asserting its political identity after decades of disenfranchisement. The city had only recently gained limited home rule in 1973, a long-awaited step toward self-determination after nearly a century of congressional control. Yet even as the District began to govern itself, Black Washingtonians, especially in Wards 7 and 8, continued to confront the entrenched inequities of segregation, redlining, and generational poverty. Schools were underfunded, hospitals under-resourced, and neighborhoods still bore the scars of the 1968 uprisings that followed Dr. King’s assassination.
But amid that struggle, a new day was dawning. A generation of African American leaders was rising—organizers, educators, artists, and public servants—determined to make the promise of democracy real for all. In 1978, the people of Washington, D.C. elected Marion S. Barry, Jr., the son of Mississippi sharecroppers, as Mayor. His election was more than a political victory; it was a declaration that the city’s majority-Black population would no longer be spectators to power but stewards of it. Across the city, women’s organizations, churches, and neighborhood groups were mobilizing to demand equity in education, health, and housing.
It was in this moment of both turmoil and transformation that the Capital City Chapter of The Links, Incorporated was born, an act not only of vision but of resistance. Our charter members stepped into history as architects of hope,
affirming that Black women would not wait for change; we would make it. Through friendship and service, we would answer the call of justice, lifting our communities from the inside out.
From the beginning, Cap City has woven together the threads of sisterhood and social action, crafting programs that speak to the needs of our people and the promise of our future. Guided by the national priorities of The Links, our chapter’s work has reflected the enduring truth that service is not charity—it is strategy, it is survival, it is how we build freedom one generation at a time.
The story of our founding is part of the larger story of Washington, D.C., a city that has long been the heartbeat of Black America and a crucible for our collective liberation. As we look back on 1979, we see not only the beginning of a chapter but the continuation of a struggle: the sacred, ongoing work of transforming our communities through purpose, power, and love.
Arts as Advocacy: “Art as Liberation—Storytelling, Healing, and Justice”
Cap City’s Arts Facet plays a central role in advancing our mission to elevate the cultural consciousness and emotional wellness of the communities we serve. As part of The Links’ national Transforming Communities Through the Arts initiative, Cap City has pioneered innovative programming at the intersection of mental health, history, and visual storytelling.
We have hosted film screenings and civic dialogues on Ava DuVernay’s Origin, Lisa Cortés’ Space Race, and Titus Kaphar’s Exhibiting Forgiveness—films that explore racial trauma, imposter syndrome, the intersections of race and science, and the intergenerational impact of grief and resilience. These events were designed not only to entertain but to heal, bridging art and activism through collaboration among our Health and Human Services (HHS), Services to Youth (STY), National Trends and Services (NTS), and International Trends and Services (ITS) Facets.
Our screening of Space Race—attended by director Lisa Cortés, an Emmy-, Academy-, Grammy-, and NAACP Image Award–winning filmmaker—was integrated into our inaugural Black Family Wellness Expo, linking storytelling to public health awareness. Through the Young Master Writers competition, we have empowered students to use art, fashion, and filmmaking as tools of self-expression and civic engagement.
Through our Black Teens in Focus program, we provide sustained support to adolescents navigating mental health challenges, including suicide prevention. This initiative fosters safe spaces for dialogue, wellness workshops, and mentorship, helping teens build resilience and self-awareness while amplifying youth voices in partnership with health professionals, educators, and peer mentors.
International Outreach: “Sisterhood Without Borders—Advancing Equity Across the Diaspora”
Our International Trends and Services (ITS) programs reflect Cap City’s global commitment to justice, education, and liberation. We have supported the emancipation of Trokosi girls in Ghana from ritual servitude, providing scholarships and mentorship through our partnerships with I Can Fly International and the Butterfly Girls Initiative, which promotes entrepreneurship and academic excellence in Kenya.
In Jamaica, Cap City has outfitted a full computer lab at St. Mary’s Preparatory School in St. James Parish and collaborates annually with sister chapters to strengthen educational continuity and youth well-being. Our work affirms that the struggle for justice transcends borders and that sisterhood is a global force for liberation.
Food Justice and Civic Engagement: “Fighting Hunger, Feeding Democracy”
Cap City’s award-winning food security work spans our NTS, HHS, and ITS Facets, confronting hunger in Wards
7 and 8 through direct service, education, and environmental justice advocacy. Our annual Food to Feed Drive, in partnership with WHUR Radio and Howard University, provides non-perishable goods to hundreds of families each year.
In collaboration with the Anacostia Coordinating Council, Building Bridges Across the River, Dreaming Out Loud, and Guildfield Baptist Church, we champion equitable food systems and sustainable agriculture. Partnering with the University of the District of Columbia, Cap City contributed to groundbreaking research titled The Impact of COVID-19 on Food Insecurity Among Postsecondary Students and Persons with Disabilities, shaping policy and programming through community-driven data.
A Home for the Diaspora: “A Seat at the Table—Friendsgiving for the Diaspora”
Launched to address the isolation experienced by international students at Howard University and the University of the District of Columbia during Thanksgiving break, our annual Friendsgiving for the Diaspora provides students from Africa and the Caribbean with a shared meal, cultural exchange, mentorship, and belonging. Hosted and funded by Cap City Links, the gathering ensures that no student feels forgotten or alone. This initiative supports mental health, celebrates cultural identity, and reinforces our commitment to unity across the African diaspora.
Empowering the Next Generation: “IGNITE DC—Inspiring Growth, Nurturing Impact, Transforming Empowerment”
Through our Links to a Second Chance Advice and Referral Clinic, created in partnership with the DC Bar Pro Bono Justice Center, we provide returning citizens with legal guidance on record sealing, expungement, and pathways to employment and housing—restoring dignity and opportunity.
Working alongside the Washington (DC) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, several other DMV Links, and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, Cap City has strengthened youth development and civic engagement initiatives. We participate in the annual etiquette seminar for Black college students, host voter registration drives, and co-sponsor critical civic panels such as Protecting Democracy: Legal Battles and Grassroots Movements in Voting Rights at Howard University School of Law.
Cap City has also embraced digital activism, using social media to encourage voter registration and early voting, amplifying the voices of Black women and youth in democracy. Our partnerships with DC Public Schools and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority through the Youth Art Walk and National Poster Art Competition have showcased student creativity under the theme My Vision, My Future
We continue to nurture leadership through our HBCU College Drive, Girl Scout partnerships, and annual toy drives—efforts that bring joy, build character, and affirm dignity across the District.
Health Equity and Holistic Wellness: “She Thrives—Black Women’s Health & Wholeness”
Under the HHS Facet, Cap City leads the DMV Walk for Healthy Living and hosts discussions on mental health, reproductive justice, breast cancer, and chronic disease disparities. Our Links for Pink Hope series raises awareness about early detection and culturally responsive care.
In partnership with GirlTrek, the nation’s largest health movement for Black women and girls, we co-hosted a Gold Laces Walk in historic Rock Creek Park, linking physical wellness to ancestral healing and sisterhood.
A Vision for the Future
Each of these programs reflects a core truth: when Black women lead with compassion, strategy, and creativity, entire communities flourish. From Southeast D.C. to St. James Parish in Jamaica, from Ghana to Kenya, and from local screenings to national stages, Cap City (DC) Links are not only transforming communities—we are shaping history.
In Friendship and Service, The Capital City (DC) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated
Capital City (DC) Chapter of the links, inc.
Althea Adams
Gill Bass
Derosette H. Blunt
Laura Rowe Brantley
Elsie W. Bryant
Lillian Butler
Peggy Cooper Cafritz
Claudia Carter
Savanna M. Clark
Alice Bowie Coleman
Doris Eiland
Cernoria D. Johnson
Hilda Mason
Marguerite Mazique
Mildred S. Morse
Sondra Norrell-Thomas
Virginia Oldham
Francella T. Press
Estelle Taylor
Lynnette Taylor
Blanche Jordan Tyree
Barbara Watson
Capital City (DC) Chapter of the
Savanna M. Clark | First Chapter President, 1979-1981
Marilyn Funderburk | Second Chapter President, 1981-1983
Lynnette Taylor | Third Chapter President, 1983-1987
Michelle D. Bernard | Eighteenth Chapter President, 2023 - Present
Membership Roster
Janet Baker
Meedie Bardonille
Alicia J. Batts
Michelle D. Bernard
Nicole A. Bernard
Gwendolyn Boyd
Stacy Burnette
Candice Tolliver Burns
Jane Brown
Caryn Cabaniss
Marilyn Charity
Regina Davis Moss
Simone Goring Devaney
Bernadine Evans
Shari S. Exum
April Gaines-Jernigan
Phyllis Caudle Green
Michele V. Hagans
Stephanie Harrison
Staci Hartwell
Shelly Jackson
Ayanna Jenkins-Toney
Angela Joyner
Arlene King-Berry
Tanisha Lewis
Courtney Michelle Martin
Camelia Mazard
Claudia McKoin
Martha Mitchell
Lolita Ousley Issac
Pamela Bell Payton
Erin Pinder
Loretta Polk
Aquila Powell
Jasmine Riley
Dawna Rogers
Mignon Smith
Andrea L. Syphax
Lakeila R. Stemmons
Krysten Simone Thomas
Joigie Hayes Tolson
Danielle Turnipseed
Annie Whatley
Michelle Wilson
2025 Officers
Michelle D. Bernard, President
Alicia J. Batts, Vice President
Courtney Michelle Martin, Recording Secretary
Angela Joyner, Treasurer
Andrea Syphax, Assistant Treasurer
Lakeila R. Stemmons, Assistant Treasurer
Jane Brown, Financial Secretary
Camelia Mazard, Corresponding Secretary
April Gaines-Jernigan, Parliamentarian
Jasmine Riley, Assistant Parlimentarian
2025 new member cohort
Mignon Smith
Tanisha Lewis
Stacy Burnette
Candice Tolliver Burns Bernadine Evans
Pamela Bell Payton
Lakeila R. Stemmons
Krysten Simone Thomas Michelle Wilson
Capital City (DC) Chapter of the Links, Inc.
Nesta H. Bernard
Carole L. Brown
Elsie W. Bryant
Inga Bumbary--Langston
Jeanie Collins Carr
Linda Earley Chastang
Linda W. Cropp
Doris S. Hall
Lois Jackson
Enid T. Johnson
Beverly Branton Lamberson
Lynn McKinley-Grant
Edna Lee Moffitt
Evelyn K. Moore
Mildred S. Morse
Stephanie E. Myers
Sondra Norrell-Thomas
Beverly Perry
Francella Press
Janet Randolph
R. Lucia Riddle
Fay DeShields Webber
Capital City (DC) Chapter of the
Links, Inc.
Althea Adams
Laura Rowe Brantley
Lillian Butler
Savanna M. Clark, Organizer
Alice Bowie Coleman
Peggy Cooper Cafritz
Doris Eiland
Frances Flippen
Betty Jo Gaines
Annie Jean Goodson, Platinum
Joanne B. Jackson
Tara Lynn Jones
Hilda Mason
Floretta Dukes McKenzie
Virginia Oldham
Marie Perry
Vivian Rouson
Estelle Taylor
Blanche Jordan Tyree
Barbara Watson
Ellen Wells
Carolyn Ousley Williams
Tanya Young
DeRosette H. Blunt
Sara J. Bumbary
Claudia Carter
Edyth Cole
Maudine R. Cooper
Lucille Davenport
Anita R. Estelle
Earline Freeman
Beatrice Gilkes
Opal Marie Hyde, Organizer
Cernoria D. Johnson
Carrie Kendrick
Marguerite Mazique
Frances L. Murphy, II
Essie Page
Claudia Rayford
Sylvia Simmons
Lynnette Taylor
Nola W. Washington
Peal Watson
Mary Wilburn
Frances Camille Young
45th Anniversary Committee Leadership
Michelle D. Bernard, Chair
Alicia J. Batts, Co-Chair
Caryn Cabaniss Mudd, Co-Chair
Michele V. Hagans, Co-Chair
Joigie Hayes Tolson, Co-Chair
Annie Whatley, Co-Chair
45th Anniversary Committee Members
Meedie Bardonille
Nicole A. Bernard
Marilyn Charity
Stephanie Harrison
Shelly Jackson
Arlene King-Berry
Tanisha Lewis
Camelia Mazard
Claudia McKoin
Martha Mitchell
Erin Pinder
Loretta Polk
Lakeila R. Stemmons
Mignon Smith
Jasmine Riley
Krysten Simone Thomas
Danielle Turnipseed
Capital City (DC) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated
45th Anniversary Celebration Luncheon
Saturday, October 11, 2025
Omni Shoreham Hotel, Washington, D.C.
CHAMPAGNE RECEPTION
MARKETPLACE
WELCOME AND STATEMENT OF OCCASION
Michelle D. Bernard - 18th President, the Capital City (DC) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated
INVOCATION
The Rev. Dr. Canon Michele V. Hagans
SPOKEN WORD PERFORMANCE
Dr. Rebecca Dupas
RECOGNITION OF SPECIAL GUESTS
Michelle D. Bernard - 18th President, the Capital City (DC) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated
SPOKEN WORD PERFORMANCE
Dr. Rebecca Dupas
AWARDS PRESENTATION
Introduction of the Services to Youth Award — Honoree, Dr. Carlotta G. Miles
Introduction of the Arts Award — Honoree, Ms. Kim Jordan
Introduction of the National Trends & Services Award — Honoree, Ms. A’Lelia Bundles
Introduction of the International Trends & Services Award — Honoree, Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie
Introduction of the Health & Human Services Award — Honoree, Dr. Jeanne Craig Sinkford (Posthumous)
Introduction of the President’s Award — Honoree, The Honorable Barbara Jean Lee
SPOKEN WORD PERFORMANCE
Dr. Rebecca Dupas
CHAMPAGNE TOAST AND CLOSING REMARKS
Michelle D. Bernard - 18th President, the Capital City (DC) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated
HONOREE
PRESIDENT’S AWARD FOR TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP AND EXCELLENCE IN CIVIC AND GLOBAL ADVOCACY
Barbara Lee was elected Mayor of Oakland in a historic Special Election conducted on April 15, 2025.
Prior to her election, Mayor Lee represented the people of Oakland as the community’s award-winning California State Assembly Member, California State Senator, and U.S. Congressional representative for nearly three decades. As Oakland’s Congresswoman, Mayor Lee secured billions of dollars to improve Oakland’s neighborhoods and quality of life -- including funding for local police officers, firefighters, and community safety programs; money for safer and greener streets; resources to uplift small businesses; and hundreds of millions to expand and green the Port of Oakland. She is the first Black woman to be elected Mayor of Oakland.
Mayor Lee has historically been a strong advocate for ethics reform and budget accountability, common sense gun reform, the expansion of home ownership opportunities, and effective solutions to homelessness -- experience she will use in her executive position as Oakland’s Mayor.
During her years as a graduate student, Mayor Lee founded the Community Health Alliance for Neighborhood Growth and Education (CHANGE), a community-based mental health center and is also a former small business owner. A clinical social worker by profession, Mayor Lee received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Mills College and her Masters in Social Welfare from the University of California, Berkeley.
HONOREE
NATIONAL TRENDS & SERVICES
A’Lelia Bundles is the author of five books including Joy Goddess: A’Lelia Walker and the Harlem Renaissance, a biography of her great-grandmother whose parties, arts patronage and convenings helped shape the social and cultural scene of that era. On Her Own Ground: The Life and Times of Madam C.J. Walker, a New York Times Notable Book and bestseller about her entrepreneurial great-great-grandmother is the fact-based biography that was the inspiration for Self Made, a fictional four-part Netflix series starring Octavia Spencer.
Ms. Bundles is a board member of the March On! Festival, the Schlesinger Library on the History of Women at Harvard Radcliffe Institute, BIO (Biographers International) and Columbia Global Reports and several other organizations that reflect her interest in journalism, history, education, historic preservation and social justice. She founded the Madam Walker Family Archives, the largest private collection of Walker ephemera, photographs and correspondence.
Ms. Bundles was a network television producer for thirty years at NBC News and then at ABC News, where she was Washington, DC deputy bureau chief and director of talent development. She is a former vice chair of Columbia University’s Board of Trustees and a former chair of the board of the National Archives Foundation.
Her articles and essays have been published in the New York Times Book Review, Town & Country, LitHub, TheUndefeated.com, Variety, Ms., O Magazine, Essence and several encyclopedias and books. A recipient of an Emmy and a du Pont Gold Baton for her television news work, she has participated in writing residencies at Yaddo and MacDowell. In 2021 she was named to the Forbes Women 50 Over 50 Impact List.
A member of Phi Beta Kappa and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, she graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College and received a master’s degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
HONOREE
INTERNATIONAL TRENDS & SERVICES
Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie is the President/General Secretary of the National Council of Churches, representing 37 denominations and 30 million people worldwide advocating for social justice, peace and ecumenical unity. She is the first African American woman to serve in this position, as well as, the first female bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
Bishop McKenzie is an active leader in social justice, having served on the White House Commission of FaithBased and Neighborhood Partnerships and named one of the 50 Most Powerful Women Religious Leaders by the Huffington Post. She is also the founder of Selah, The Leadership Encounter for Women, and the author of six books on leadership and personal growth. A graduate of the University of Maryland, Howard University, and United Theological Seminary, she is a passionate mentor and global educator who leads with unwavering faith, wisdom, and dedication to service in everything she does.
HONOREE
SERVICES TO YOUTH
Dr. Carlotta Gordon Miles, a proud eighth-generation Floridian from St. Augustine, was born to Dr. Rudolph N. Gordon, a pioneering Head and Neck Surgeon, and Mrs. Rosalie Robinson Gordon, a beloved English Department Chair and Guidance Counselor at the historic Excelsior High School. From her earliest years, excellence was her hallmark—both as a scholar and as a musical prodigy who performed with the Jacksonville Symphony at age eleven and played piano backstage for the legendary Marian Anderson at nine.
A gifted leader and lifelong learner, Dr. Miles pursued her calling in medicine, specializing in Child and Adult Psychiatry. Guided by a deep compassion for children and families, she has combined clinical practice with bold advocacy to expand access, representation, and mental-health awareness across communities and institutions.
Dr. Miles was a founding member of the Negro Student Fund (now the Black Student Fund), which helped integrate Washington, D.C.’s independent schools through a historic $75,000 grant from the Ford Foundation. Her 14 years as keynote speaker for the National Association of Independent Schools led to a national policy requiring every private school—boarding and day—to employ a psychiatrist or psychologist as a consultant, a reform for which she was honored by the American Psychiatric Association in 2012.
A sought-after voice on the global stage, Dr. Miles has presented at the Women’s Forum for the Economy and Society in Deauville, France, and at Harvard Business School’s Dynamic Women in Business Conference. Her expertise and insights have been featured in major documentaries including PBS’s Class in America (2005), CNN’s Black in America II with Soledad O’Brien (2009), and Greyson Perry’s American Journey (2023). In 2023, the American Psychiatric Association recorded her oral history for its permanent archives.
President Barack Obama invited Dr. Miles to serve on his STEM Committee, recognizing her as a trailblazer inspiring girls and underrepresented students in science and technology. She also founded The Tuxedo Ball, a mentorship and pride initiative celebrating the achievements and self-worth of young African Americans, with annual awards honoring exceptional youth and adult role models.
Today, Dr. Miles continues to write, lecture, and maintain her private psychiatric practice. She treasures her life with her husband, Attorney Theodore A. Miles, their children—Dr. Wendell Gordon Miles, a hand and plastic surgeon, and Lydia Carlotta Miles Logan, IBM’s Global Vice President for Educational Initiatives—and their six cherished grandchildren. Her father’s timeless charge continues to guide her life and legacy: “Our one requirement in a successful life is to pass the baton.”
HONOREE
HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
Dr. Sinkford is a nationally and internationally renowned dental educator, administrator, researcher, and clinician. She finished first in the dental class of 1958 at Howard University before pursuing graduate study at Northwestern University, where she received her MS (1962) and PhD (1963). She completed a pedodontics residency at Children’s Hospital National Medical Center in 1975. Dr. Sinkford became the first woman dean of a dental school in the US in 1975. She served in that capacity from 1975 to 1991.
She has served on numerous committees and advisory councils of national significance,including the council of the Institute of Medicine, the National Academy of Sciences NRC Governing Board, the National Advisory Dental Research Council; Directors’ Advisory Council, National Institutes of Health; the governing board of the American Society for Geriatric Dentistry; advisory board, Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Program; Committee A, Council on Dental Education and chair, Appeal Board Council of Dental Education, American Dental Association; chair, Council of Deans American Association of Dental Schools; Council on Dental Research, American Dental Association; Tuskegee Study Advisory Panel; Special Medical Advisory Group (SMAG), Veterans Administration; National Academy of Sciences; chair, Anatomical Review Board of the District of Columbia and National Board of Directors of the Girl Scouts USA; and The Sullivan Alliance Advisory Board.
Dr. Sinkford has more than one hundred articles published in refereed journals and has written an instructional manual for crown and bridge prosthodontics. From 1992 to 2011, Dr. Sinkford was responsible for diversity programming and initiatives at the American Dental Education Association (formerly, American Association of Dental Schools). Under her leadership, ADEA created numerous opportunities for the advancement of women and underrepresented minorities including the ADEA/Enid A. Neidle Scholar-inResidence Program for women and the ADEA International Women’s Leadership Conferences (1998, 2003, 2005, and 2010).
Dr. Sinkford holds honorary degrees from Howard University, the University of Michigan, Meharry Medical College, Georgetown University, the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, and DetroitMercy University. She has received alumni achievement awards from Northwestern University and Howard University and numerous other citations for exceptional professional achievement. Dr. Sinkford was selected as an Outstanding Leader in Dentistry by the International College of Dentists. She is the first African American woman to be so honored. She has received the Lucy Hobbs Taylor Award from the Association of American Women Dentists and the Distinguished Service Award from the American Dental Association and the Society of American Indian Dentists.
HONOREE
THE ARTS
Kim Jordan is an internationally celebrated artist, keyboardist, producer, composer, arranger, vocal coach, and minister whose career spans more than four decades in music and ministry. A proud graduate of Howard University, Kim earned her B.A. in Music and was immediately hired by the legendary jazz poet Gil Scott-Heron, serving as his musical director until his passing in 2011. Her performances have earned global acclaim from The London Guardian, Billboard, The Washington Post, Vibe, and The Chicago Tribune.
As the first signed artist to D.C.’s ProSounity Music Label, Kim released five acclaimed projects — All for You, Full Circle, Uncommon, Put Your Hands Together, and Dreams, Detours and Destinies. Her extensive performance résumé includes collaborations with Roberta Flack, Stevie Wonder, Brenda Russell, Common, Me’shell Ndegeocello, Regina Carter, and Terri Lyne Carrington, among others. She has graced stages from the Kennedy Center and New Orleans Jazz Festival to the Detroit Opera House and Syracuse Jazz Festival, embodying the essence of artistic excellence.
Kim’s compositions have been featured on television programs such as All My Children and The CBS Morning Show, as well as in Showtime’s Young Black Filmmakers Showcase film Rain. Her work as musical director, arranger, and vocal coach includes collaborations with major labels such as Interscope, Island Black Music, and Warner Brothers Records. She has conducted master classes and served as guest lecturer for music institutions across the U.S. and the U.K., including The City of Liverpool Arts College and Edge Hill University in England.
A native of Detroit, Kim’s artistry and leadership have earned her numerous honors, including the ASCAP Music Award for composing and producing We Must Be in Love (recorded by Pure Soul), which reached No. 5 on Billboard’s R&B chart. She is also a recipient of the Urban Gospel Alliance and Urban Gospel Industry Awards for Best Female Artist and Producer of the Year.
Answering a higher calling, Kim earned her Master of Arts in Practical Theology from Regent University and was ordained a Minister of the Gospel in 2001. She currently serves as Minister of Music and Biblical Instructor at Crossover Church and leads the Hungry Woman’s Bible Study on Zoom, where she continues to inspire through word and song.
Today, Kim continues to expand her creative reach as Co-Chair of the Producers and Engineers Wing for the Recording Academy’s D.C. Chapter. In 2025, she was invited by the Dutch Government to conduct masterclasses on the island of Saba, returning in 2026 to help design a public curriculum in musical performance and production. She is also preparing the release of her sixth album, Alrighty Alright, and her forthcoming memoir, Miraculous Moments.
Through her company ProSounity Music Productions, Kim is launching Miraculous Musical Moments, a therapeutic initiative using music to support individuals with early Alzheimer’s and dementia. Whether on stage, in the studio, or behind the pulpit, Kim Jordan continues to embody artistry, purpose, and faith — inspiring audiences around the world with her message of creativity, excellence, and healing through music.
ABOUT Dr. Rebecca Dupas
SPOKEN WORD ARTIST
Dr. Rebecca Dupas performed her first original poem at age 18 and by her early twenties was trusted to co-host what was then the longest-running weekly open mic in Baltimore City. Two decades later, she is a Baltimore Legend award recipient and named Baltimore’s 2024 Renaissance Woman of the Year, among other awards in DC and beyond. Dr. Dupas is an accomplished multi-disciplinary artist known for her vulnerability and relatability. Her impactful career and writing ability have earned her recognition on platforms like C-SPAN, PBS, WEAA, Sirius XM, The Washington Post, The Afro, Baltimore’s Artscape, and the DC Black Film Festival.
A Louisiana native now based in the DMV, Dr. Dupas has over 20 years of experience writing commissioned works, live performance, curation, hosting, and leading poetry and professional development workshops. Beyond curating open mic experiences throughout DC, she is the visionary behind innovative artist development projects such as The Harvest Society (an online writer’s circle), Body of Work (a solo artist showcase event), and The Baltimore Host Retreat (a community-based training event for event hosts in the DMV).
Rebecca has published seven books, including Somebody Else’s Blues (the novel, the relationship reflection journal, and an open mic poetry experience), Not Without Black Women, and the children’s book Mario Goes to the Museum, which explore themes central to the Black experience.
Beyond her artistic pursuits, Dr. Dupas serves as a Program Manager and a Director of Education with experience in community outreach and work rooted in social justice and human rights issues.
Sponsors
Presenting Sponsor
silver Sponsors
Mr. Larry Bailey and Mrs. Loleta Bailey
Mrs Nesta Bernard and The Bernard Family
Ms. Stacy Burnette
Mr. Jason Bradley/Compass
The Honorable Linda Cropp
Ms. Bernadine Evans
Mr. Andre Goodson
Janene D. Jackson, Esq.
Ms. Courtney Martin
Mrs. Caryn Cabaniss Mudd
PRM Consulting
Ms. Joigie Hayes Tolson
Friends of the Capital City (DC) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated
e Capital City (DC) Chapter of e Links, Incorporated extends heartfelt gratitude to our members, sponsors, guests, honorees and community partners who made our 45th Anniversary Luncheon a resounding success. More than an a ernoon gathering, today is a celebration of legacy, renewal, and excellence, a re ection of fortyve years of friendship and service, and a recommitment to the work that lies ahead.
Your generous support sustains our programs and scholarships that empower the next generation of leaders pursuing excellence in medicine, dentistry, law, pharmacy, nursing, and beyond. rough your partnership, we continue to build bridges of opportunity, nurture brilliance, and strengthen the communities we serve.
As we honor our past and embrace the promise of the future, we thank you for being part of this extraordinary journey.
Together, we rise. Together, we are rooted in friendship, and rising in service.
