The Services to Youth facet seeks to encourage and expand the initiative to support Historically Black Colleges. A National committee consisting of Links members from each chapter, was established to address the HBCU’s critical need to increase their number of graduates. The collaborative goal to link Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) with Community Colleges focuses on increasing high school and college graduation rates, awarding college scholarships, and promoting and supporting endowments. As a complement to this initiative, the Central Area has partnered with the Kettering Foundation in support of Educational Linkages’ program of Closing the Achievement Gap. Chapters conduct forums specifically designed to engage the community in a dialog that creates an awareness of, and develops strategies to address the problem of achievement that continues to exist in the education of youth in public schools. Services To Youth National Signature programs are designed to address critical areas in education leading to student success.  Links to Success: Children Achieving Excellence engages chapters to mentor and assist in closing the achievement gap for K-3^rd grade minority students with an emphasis on literacy.  Project L.E.A.D. – High Expectations Signature Program reflects The Links, Incorporated’s effort to close the academic achievement gap of 4^th – 8^th grade students, while responding to their social-emotional needs, encouraging health and fitness, introducing S.T.E.M. related education and career options, and improving their financial literacy.