Community Action History:
Great Plains Improvement 19Foundation, Inc., Community Action Partnership is a nonprofit organization that has been serving the Very Low, Low and Moderate Income population of Comanche County since 1965. Since receiving our Certificate of Incorporation in 1965, we have grown to an agency that has approximately 20 programs, with over 100 employees, meeting the needs of thousands from the poor population in our service delivery area of Comanche County.
The Community Action movement dates back to 1964, when the Economic Opportunity Act was passed as a part of Lyndon B. Johnson's War on Poverty. The Act established the Office of Economic Opportunity, a federal office charged with the mission of eliminating both the causes and effects of poverty. Economic Opportunity Offices were created in each state, and in turn established a new kind of community-based organization, called Community Action Agencies.
The office of Economic Opportunity no longer exists, but Community Action Agencies continue to thrive. Federal money now funds Community Action Agencies either directly in the form of grants, or through the states, as in Community Service Block Grant funds. The federal money is augmented tremendously by additional funds from states and local communities. There are currently 19 separate Community Action Agencies in Oklahoma, serving 77 counties.
The Promise of Community Action:
"Community Action changes people's lives, embodies the spirit of hope, improves communities, and makes America a better place to live. We care about that entire community and we are dedicated to helping people help themselves and each other.