First Row (L to R): Cheryl Muller, Veronica Hutchinson, Helen Dortch, Raquel Skinner, Candice Edwards, Dana Stebbins, Tanya Penny Woods, Lisa Ransom 
Second Row (L to R): Josephine Moss-Nelson, Karen Gooden, Jacqueline Jiles, Frankie McCurdy, Addie Martin, Anita Clarke, Manervia Riddick, Cynthia Burke, Sheila Tillerson Adams, W. Chris Stewart, Sandra Maddox, Corine Smith 
Third Row (L to R): Paula Walker, Betty Horton-Hodge, Ingrid Turner, Roslyn Hoover, Sandra Boatman 
Fourth Row (L to R): Ann Chapman, Tamara Devieux-Adams, Sharon Gibson, Cheli English-Figaro, Rosalind Daniel-Walker, Veronica Hill, Robynne Prince, Athena Groves, Cheryl Petty Garnette, Carolyn Pinckney, Nancy Shannon, Linda Jackson Jones, Sondra Petty, Winifred Turner, Melanie Shaw Geter

Chapter History

In the summer of 2012, Gloria Gary Lawlah, a member of the Prince George’s County (MD) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, invited a small group of friends to her home. As the Organizer, she named the group of women the “Petals on the Potomac.” As the group was forming, Gloria was ably assisted in this endeavor by the following members of The Links, Incorporated who attended the organizing sessions: Magalene Bowling, Genia Embrey-Brock, Joyce Felder, Debra Flowers, Geneva May and Flavia Walton. Cheli English-Figaro was selected as the first President of the Petals on the Potomac.

While keeping in mind the national objectives of The Links, Incorporated, the Petals immediately began their civic involvement during the 2012 Presidential election season by volunteering to serve with the Get Out The Vote Campaign. In 2013, we initiated an ongoing partnership with the Shepherd’s Cove Emergency Shelter for Women & Children in Capitol Heights. During this period, Cheli English-Figaro was succeeded by W. Chris Stewart as the second President of the Petals on the Potomac. 

The group continued its service to community in 2014 under the leadership of Candice Burke. The Petals developed several programs to benefit women at Shepherd’s Cove to include skills building workshops, a Dress for Success activity and Mother’s Day Wellness Tea. For the children, we tutored, assisted in completing homework and provided after school classes in basic Spanish, music theory, poetry and art. From our project of making over two hundred creative no-sew blankets, we gifted each child with a blanket whenever his/her family transitioned out of the shelter. For our work with Shepherd’s Cove, we were nominated for awards in three categories at the United Communities Against Poverty’s (UCAP) 50th Anniversary Gala. We ultimately received the Bonnie Johns Presidential Award. UCAP is Prince George’s largest community action agency.

In addition to our work at the shelter, the Petals established partnerships with other community based businesses and organizations. Throughout 2014, we provided service to two nursing homes in the County. Also, we contributed a bundle of no-sew blankets to children during adoption day at the Prince George’s County Court House in Upper Marlboro. Furthermore, we inspired over four hundred middle school girls at the Girls Empowerment Program at Andrew Jackson Academy in Forestville, Maryland. During that activity, we presented workshops on healthy habits, goal setting strategies and career path selection. We sustained our relationships with all of the above named organizations into 2015 and 2016. 

After nearly four years of working together in service to Prince George’s County, the Petals on the Potomac were granted the status of chapter-elect in May of 2016, and elected Candice Burke as President of Mount Rose (MD) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated.  

On June 4, 2016, the Mount Rose (MD) Chapter became the 284th chapter of The Links, Incorporated. As members of the Mount Rose (MD) Chapter, we will remain linked in friendship and connected in service.
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