Hal B. Goode, Executive Director
May is community Action month and Central Kentucky Community Action Council are proud of our 260 Employees who daily fight to pull people from the grasp of poverty. The below was written by Charisse Johnson Director, Division of Community Assistance for the Office of Community Services, that sets the tone of Community Action.
Community Action creates pathways to prosperity by advancing equity, promoting economic stability, and mobilizing resources that support community-driven solutions for the purpose of addressing the causes and consequences of poverty. The Office of Community Services’ (OCS) Division of Community Assistance (DCA) is excited to celebrate Community Action Month, as a time to acknowledge and amplify the work the Community Action Network (the Network) does to “embody the spirit of hope, improve communities, and make America a better place to live.” During this month, we want to amplify the work of the network, highlight successes, and thank everyone who makes community action possible.
To celebrate the 59th year of Community Action, OCS has chosen the theme, “We See You: Partnering Across the Community Action Network to Advance Equity.” Equity is a cornerstone of Community Action, as is evident in the goals of the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG): to reduce poverty, revitalize communities, and empower individuals and families.
This Community Action Month, I hope you take time to reflect on how our Network’s anti-poverty strategies advance equity by helping underserved individuals and communities achieve stability and self-sufficiency. I also hope that during the month you will be inspired to develop, enhance, and implement efforts to further advance equity including:
Identifying and addressing the root causes of inequity in underserved communities.
Dismantling programs and policies that perpetuate systemic barriers to opportunity.
Breaking down service silos and promoting integrated care.
Developing methods to support grant recipients in strategic planning to address practices and policies that historically exacerbate inequity.
Centering the voices of those served, as part of our commitment to equity.
These are some powerful words about Community Action, please join us to take time this month to celebrate for our team as they reflect on the impact of their work.
More to come…… much more…………….