WHO WE ARE
Action Pathways tackles poverty for in-depth community development
Serving southeastern North Carolina
Action Pathways is a non-profit human services agency offering a comprehensive and supportive approach to helping families and individuals achieve and sustain economic security— effectively providing them a path forward in life. Formed in 1964, Action Pathways is part of a national network of community action programs whose promise is to change people’s lives, embody the spirit of hope, and improve our communities.
ABOUT COMMUNITY ACTION
Shortly before President Kennedy’s assassination, he had begun to engage economic advisors to address the problem of American poverty. Continuing this work, Johnson called for an unconditional war to defeat poverty during his initial State of the Union Address during 1964. Thus began the War on Poverty to improve the lives of all Americans, regardless of their economic circumstances. President Johnson promised to encourage equal opportunity for all by enacting several comprehensive changes within the federal government. The Economic Opportunity Act was signed into law the fall of that year, thereby establishing the Community Action Network across the nation. The Economic Opportunity Act included the following initiatives:
- Head Start
- Job Corps
- Work-Study program for university students
- Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA)
- Neighborhood Youth Corps
- Basic education and adult job training
- Community Action Programs
According to the Community Action Partnership, the service areas of Community Action Agencies (CAAs) cover approximately 96 percent of counties in all states. Connected by a national network that includes the Community Action Partnership national association, regional associations, state associations, a national lobbying organization, and a national association of Community Service Block Grant administrators, CAAs are each independently-operated, private human service non-profit organizations. Currently, more than 34 million residents in the United States rely on CAAs as the primary direct-support agency to keep them on their feet.
For more information on CAAs and their history, please visit www.communityactionpartnership.com