Feature of the Month - August 2010 

Passage of the Economic Opportunity Act

August 20, 1964

The Beginning of Community Action  

It is, therefore, the policy of the United States to eliminate the paradox of poverty in the midst of plenty in this Nation

COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM
SEC 202. (a) The term "community action program" means a program—

(1) which mobilizes and utilizes resources, public or private, of any urban or rural, or combined urban and rural, geographical area (referred to in this part as a "community"), including but not limited to a State, metropolitan area, county, city, town, multicity unit, or multicounty unit in an attack on poverty;

(2) which provides services, assistance, and other activities of sufficient scope and size to give promise of progress toward elimination of poverty or a cause or causes of poverty through developing employment opportunities, improving human performance, motivation, and productivity, or bettering the conditions under which people live, learn, and work;

(3) which is developed, conducted, and administered with the maximum feasible participation of residents of the areas and members of the groups served; and

(4) which is conducted, administered, or coordinated by a public or private nonprofit agency (other than a political party), or a combination thereof.

Community Action was designed as a new locally-based approach to systematically address not only the conditions, but also the causes, of poverty.

Learn about the origins of Community Action that still apply in many ways 46 years later.

Community Action Arrives 

President Johnson's 1964 War Against Poverty statement, creating the U.S. Office of Economic Opportunity and the nation-wide network of non-profit Community Action Agencies to combat the causes and conditions of poverty.
Produced for the Community Association of Pennsylvania’s 40th Anniversary

Many CAA websites feature information on the early days of Community Action.  For example, here's how the Community Action Agency of Somerset County (PA) describes the Origin of Community Action and the Concept of Community Action as it continues to work today.

Read David Bradley's insights on Launching the War on Poverty: An Oral History by Michael L. Gillette and ask to be contacted on dates for the next History of the War on Poverty Workshop conducted by David.

Listen to the White House Tapes on the War on Poverty

Lyndon B Johnson - The Great Society from American Experience on PBS

Learn About Sargent Shriver

Sarge: The Life and Times of Sargent Shriver by Scott Stossel – Biography of the first OEO Director and visionary with ideas about the importance of community action.

Sargent Shriver: From Idealism to Institution – This is the documentary completed by 2009 National History Day Senior Individual Documentary Finalist, Nathan Rehr.  This documentary covers the life, political career, and generosity of Sargent Shriver, who ran as the Vice Presidential candidate with George McGovern.  His legacy of idealism lead to the founding of numerous institutions as a result of his socially conscience philanthropy.

So You Want to Change the World Now What?
A seminar at Rutgers University inspired by the figure and work of Sargent Shriver, the creator of Peace Corps, Community Action, Vista, Head Start, Federal Work Study, Special Olympics and other socially relevant programs.

Commentary on the War on Poverty

40th Anniversary of the War on Poverty
Listen to the NPR discussion with some of the people who served on the front lines of America's War on Poverty and the legacy that was created.

Conference on the War on Poverty - View these session held at the University of Virginia's Miller Center of Public Affairs.

Please send us any other items that could add to those featured here!