This year during National Community Action Month - a commemoration held in May to highlight the anti-poverty work of Community Action Agencies across the county - First State Community Action Agency and Community Action Agencies across the country celebrated their history of partnering with other organizations to address poverty-related issues in their communities.
Since their inception in 1964, Community Action Agencies (CAAs) have established and maintained a variety of partnerships with other community-based organizations.
During difficult economic times, partnerships have been the key for CAAs to keep helping low-income individuals weather the storm.
“We have been able to expand our services for Delaware’s low-income residents by forming partnerships with various individuals and groups in our community,” said First State [Community Action Agency]’s Executive Director Bernice Edwards. “This has especially been the case recently during the country’s economic downturn.
“All of the advocates and supporters here understand that low-income people are the ones hit hardest during a recession, and we have all worked together to ensure they always have access to critical programs and services.”
The national office of the Community Action Partnership designates May as National Community Action Month to recognize the work of CAAs that are fighting poverty on the local level. Each year, CAAs help 13 million Americans escape poverty and achieve financial stability through programs such as Head Start, job training, financial planning and housing.
“In the spirit of First State Community Action Agency and other CAAs across the country, the national office of the Community Action Partnership also maintains long-lasting collaborations that have significantly helped call attention to the plight of low-income Americans,” said Don Mathis, president and CEO of the Community Action Partnership.
“And we have called on First State and these CAAs to help us enhance these relationships by placing op-ed articles on poverty, testifying about local economic problems, and writing letters to their elected officials in support of critical programs and services,” said Mathis. “These local and national partnerships prove that working together we can really make a positive impact on the lives of others.”
To learn more about First State Community Action Agency and its partnerships or to schedule a visit, call 302-856-7761.
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