International Trends and Services facet programs are designed to support the education, health care, and basic human needs of people from developing nations who are of African descent; to advocate on behalf of people from developing nations of African descent who are oppressed or victimized; and to promote global awareness among the youth that we mentor in our communities.
Houston is the most diverse city in the country, as such the International Trends Facet of the Missouri City Chapter of the Links, Inc. strives to support local initiatives that have an international focus and impact.
We promote awareness of human trafficking, and its victimization of local girls and women, including recent immigrants to Houston, through support of Elijah Rising.
The Links Delegation To Haiti
International Trends sponsors a Panty Drive for girls and women in Haiti who were affected by the devastating 2010 earthquake. This initiative seeks to deliver panties along with fundamental personal hygiene “dignity” kits to the Haitian community. Additionally, we support international work in Haiti through donations to the Western Area’s well initiative and provide service and funding to Haitian community hospitals and schools.
Human Trafficking
International Trends partnered with the YWCA Houston and the Pearland Chapter of The Links to sponsor a Human Trafficking Awareness Town Hall Meeting at the YWCA. The film “I am Jane Doe” was shown, and a panel discussion followed with a human trafficking victim, the mother of a victim and an advocate.
Elijah Rising is a local nonprofit focused on aiding victims of Human Trafficking. International Trends sponsored a human trafficking event at Elijah Rising where participantswere invited to tour Elijah Rising’s Museum on Human Traffickingand participate in a van tour to areas where human trafficking is known to occur.
Partner with Plant It Forward
International Trends continues its partnership with Plant It Forward to support Sub-Saharan refugees who are provided an opportunity to become entrepreneurs through farming. This program is two-fold as we deliver fresh produce from Plant It Forward to Cuney Homes, a public housing complex for disadvantaged communities in the Third Ward area of Houston.
Partner with ReVision
International Trends held a clothing and hygiene drive for the International Community of ReVision, which supports refugee children and families. ReVision is a community partner focused on engaging disconnected youth.
International Women’s Day
International Trends engages and empowers women through a conference that celebrations international culture. The program included: Lalou originally from Nigeria, owner of Ogun’s. Unique James,an artistic stylist who has lived in Nigeria and traveled extensively in Africa, shared information on Nigerian Fashion Week experiences and her role as creative designer for a new international film to debut in May 2019. A Nigerian fashion designer and entrepreneur who has been featured in national fashion magazines shared her story and brought a variety of her fashions. Haitian born music artist, Judith Stevenson shared information on Haitian culture; and sung a selection in her native Creole.
In 2019, International Trends hosted a Facebook Live International Women’s Day Conversation and Dinner that engaged nearly 2000 live people and reached 3000 people overall on Facebook. The conversation helped to promote the Ralph Bunche International Affairs program to local university students in an effort to increase African American representation in the foreign affairs arena.
In 2018, International Women’s Day partnered with Link Mia Wright’s Metamorphosis Facebook Live International Women’s Day Interview with female leaders in the greater Houston area.