NORTH COAST, Calif. — On Tuesday, May 7, the Lake County Board of Supervisors of the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors each delivered proclamations in recognition of May as Community Action Month and honoring the 60th Anniversary of Community Action in America.
Staff and board members of North Coast Opportunities Inc., or NCO, Lake and Mendocino counties’ local community action agency, were on hand at both events to receive the proclamation.
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 25 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 — they believe in a nation that creates opportunities for all people to thrive, builds strong, resilient communities, and ensures a more equitable society.
“For 56 years, NCO has been committed to sustaining an equitable and just community by listening and responding to community needs,” said Patty Bruder, NCO’s CEO. “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.
To learn more about Community Action or NCO go online to www.ncoinc.org.
NCO is the Community Action Agency that serves Lake and Mendocino Counties, as well as parts of Humboldt, Sonoma, Del Norte and Solano counties. NCO reacts and adjusts to community needs, including disaster response and recovery.
For more information visit www.ncoinc.org or call 707-467-3200.