Mendocino and Lake Counties proclaim May as Community Action Month

On Tuesday, May 7, the Board of Supervisors of the County of Lake and the Board of Supervisors of Mendocino County each delivered proclamations in recognition of May as Community Action Month and honoring the 60^th Anniversary of Community Action in America.  Staff and board members of North Coast Opportunities, Inc. (NCO), Lake and Mendocino Counties local community action agency, were on hand at both events to receive the proclamation notices.

Since its creation in 1964, Community Action has responded to local needs in every corner of America and helped make America a better place to live. During this time, the nation’s Community Action Network has inspired a spirit of hope, helped people change their lives, and improved communities. When national, state, Tribal, and local leaders partner with Community Action Agencies, workable solutions are created that connect more families to opportunity—and make America a better place to live for everyone.

“(Community Action) did begin with the war on poverty but more than that, I want to say that it is the belief that we can make a difference (in regards) to poverty,” NCO Board of Directors member Pastor Shannon Kimbell-Auth said. “It is the belief that we can make a difference in generational poverty. It is the belief that we, collectively, if we do this work, and we live this commitment, we will make lives better for all, not just some, but all the women and children and men of America. And when we do this work, we are the solution.”

NCO envisions healthy and safe communities with equitable opportunities for all and works to empower people to transform their lives by providing vital services and acting as a community leader to build economic justice and well-being. The agency serves community members through over twenty-five programs that range from childcare to workforce development, food access to emergency preparedness and more.

“Thank you, to NCO… (for) the commitment that you have to our community and the impacts that you are making to our community,” County of Lake Board of Supervisors Chair Bruno Sabatier said. “You are involved in just about everything that I can think of, and I couldn’t appreciate it more, thank you for your …service.”

The Community Action vision remains clear—we believe in a nation that creates opportunities for all people to thrive, builds strong, resilient communities, and ensures a more equitable society. Patty Bruder, NCO’s CEO remarks that “For 56 years, NCO has been committed to sustaining an equitable and just community by listening and responding to community needs.  We are energized to continue our work into the future.”

And, there is still work to be done. Nearly 40 million Americans continue to live in poverty, and more are only one missed paycheck away from hardship. However, Americans in poverty no longer face hardship alone. Today, 99% of counties in America have access to life changing services that create pathways to opportunity and prosperity because of a Community Action Agency.