^^^ I'm sure I said this before, but the Washington Metropolitan Links gave me a writing award when I was but 15 years old.
Alelia Bundles was the chairwoman of the event, long before she had written the Madam CJ Walker Biography.
Yes, the majority of the women in attendance were older, but Alelia seemed to be in her 30s (or she just looked damn good for her age).
The Links definitely provided that positive reinforcement that young black writers and poets need. Not sure if it was a national programmatic thrust or a chapter thing.