Youth Docent Program

In 1999, eight members of the Cincinnati (OH) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated embarked upon an idea that would change how students learn African American history. In collaboration with the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, the Links’ Youth Docent Program was formally established in 2003. 

The purpose of the Links’ Youth Docent Program is to prepare a generation of leaders by empowering each participant with knowledge, leadership, and verbal communication skills while enabling them to share historical stories within the setting of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. Furthermore, the program instills pride, trains, educates, and expands the experiences of participants, regarding the African American heritage.

In 2006 the Cincinnati (OH) Chapter received the National Program Award from The Links, Incorporated for the Links’ Youth Docent Program. In 2018, two Youth Docents, Heir-O-Link Mya Dunn, and Chase Pope, were selected by the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C. to participate in the 2018-2019 Smithsonian Secretary’s Youth Advisory Council, a group formed to acquire the perspectives of young people regarding various issues and to help guide the work of the Institution.

Under the leadership of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, the Teen Docent program now serves students in the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky region, with more than 200 students have participated since the first class.  As race relations continue to be a critical focus across America, the Youth Docents can intelligently and articulately educate guests about freedom and the African American history of the United States of America.