History of Eden Rose Chapter
(Formerly South Bay Area Chapter)
Inducted on February 6, 2010

Mary E. Cooke had long conceived of the idea that the Bay Area with its myriad of needs had room for one more Links Chapter. In 2007, Mary E. Cooke reached out to Donna Wilson, and in turn they both reached out to two more friends, Wanda Hill-Smith and Betty Kennedy-Tapscott to discuss the feasibility of forming a third Bay Area Links Chapter. After adding two more friends, Joyce Brazil and Norma Williams, this small group began to recruit more talented women. This ever-widening circle of friends became officially recognized by The Western Area of The Links, Incorporated as an interest group. The collective began to work together on developing projects aligned with the goals of The Links, Incorporated.

Over the next three years, the interest group grew from the original six friends to thirty-three gifted women ready to develop and implement exemplary programs both locally and internationally. With the guidance and support of Regional and National Officers over this three-year period, the interest group was assessed and deemed ready to implement quality programs to serve the community. We would be formally accepted as a new chapter in the Links, Incorporated. On February 6, 2010, the chapter was ceremoniously chartered by the fourteenth National President, Link Gwendolyn B. Lee, at the Claremont Hotel in Berkeley, California.  Our boundaries would be Far East Oakland Area (Skyline Blvd. through Chabot Parks Estate) including San Leandro, Fremont, Hayward, Newark, Union City, Castro Valley, and other communities in the East Bay Area.

Charter Members of South Bay Area Chapter: Myrna Hardy Anderson, Mary Esther Augustine, Michelle Banks, Wandra Boyd, Joyce Brazil, Betty Calvin, Elizabeth M. Cooke, Mary E. Cooke, Mikie Cooke, Vanessa Cormier, Terri Dunn-Dawkins, E’Leva Hughes-Gibson, Regina R. Guillory, Leslie Jackson, Ashley Jennings, Willeta Jennings, Mia Kelly, Betty Kennedy-Tapscott, Norma Mosley-Lampley, Lillian Litzsey, Ianthia W. Mack, Karen McHenry-Smith, Deneen Ogbeide, Jennifer Rose-Pope, Norma Ryles, Wanda Hill- Smith, Donna Tillery-Wilson, Aisha Toney, Dolores J. Ward, Norma Williams, Connie Ruth Willis, Tommie Wilson and Maya E. Woods-Cadiz.

Since our chartering, we have placed great effort into maintaining a high quality of programming and friendship activities. Our success has been partially measured by the number of awards and recognition in programming that Eden Rose Chapter has received from both The Western Area and The National Organization. Our mentoring program utilizes a service delivery model under umbrella programming. The program has been published twice in The Links Best Practices program book. Our targeted population is the Girl Scouts where we have received monetary awards for this mentoring program, “Making a Positive Impact Together-MAP-IT.” Several other programs have earned recognition as being exemplary; among them have been programs for Women’s Health, “Faith, Inspiration and Transformation” (F.I.T.), Mental Health Resource Guide and an intergenerational forum on Black Historical Colleges. The Health and Beauty Symposium, our signature program, continues to highlight aspects of health-related issues in the African American community and among women of color. The Symposium brings together notable physicians and health care experts in an interactive forum to discuss various women health topics. The forum combines medical information, beauty routines with nutritional and fitness experts. This highly successful event provides critical information on health and beauty for our community.

Additional Historical Highlights Have Included:

  • Hosting the 33rd Annual Northern California Cluster at the Claremont Hotel and Spa located in Berkeley, California on March 16th, 2012. At that time this event had the highest number of Link participants ever to attend a Cluster in Northern California.
  • Providing “A Day for You” Conference for Women (75 participants) This event won an award for “Promising New Programs.” Provided free mammograms, B/P screenings, exercise demonstrations and nutrition tips for community women.
  • Assisting the Mother of Peace Orphanage by raising funds to directly support them; participated in the ongoing packing of life-sustaining HIV/AIDS medication and provided school shoes and school supplies.
  • Developed a Adopt a School Library Program at Thurgood Marshall Elementary School, Oakland, CA. in collaboration with the Oakland Unified School District’s Librarian.
  • Partnering with the Hayward Area Historical Society (HAHS)and Palma Ceia Baptist Church to encourage, advocate, promote and foster an appreciation of the contributions and impact of African Americans in Hayward and surrounding areas.
  • Exhibiting the work of Eden Rose Chapter at HAHS entitled, “Celebrating Black Life, History and Culture.”
  • Partnering with The League of Women Voters and Black Women Organized for Political Action (BWOPA) to set up voter registration tables in the community.
  • Receiving the President Barack Obama Volunteer Service Award

The work continues to excite and challenge Eden Rose Chapter members as we strive to provide the best information and programs to an underserved community. We are currently partnering in a Covid-19 effort with other Bay Area Links chapters where we are providing resources and education to mitigate community health disparities resulting from the pandemic.

Chapter Presidents Since Our Chartering

Mary Esther Augustine

(2020-2023)

Norma Ryles

(2017-2020)

Dolores Ward

(2012-2017)

Mary Cooke

(2010-2012)