Community Action Solutions
Oklahoma Association of Community Action Agencies

In This Issue

Keeping the Promise Video Premieres at Conference

OKACAA Launches Statewide IDA Funding Drive

Southwest Enterprises Provides Jobs for People with Disabilities

Rebecca Reynolds Named Little Dixie Executive Director

OKACAA Provides Required Weatherization Essentials Training

Sargent Shriver Visited Oklahoma in 1966

Oklahoma Poverty Profile Issued

Upcoming Events

Quick Links

Oklahoma Association of Community Action Agencies

Comunity Action Partnership

Community Action Association of Region VI

Oklahoma Department of Commerce

MyRide Statewide

VirtualCAP

Join Our List

September-October 2014

'Keeping the Promise' Video Premieres at Conference
A video highlighting the history and importance of Community Action premiered during OKACAA's 50th Anniversary conference last month. Community Action grew out of President Lyndon B. Johnson's declaration of an unconditional war on poverty in his 1964 State of the Union message to Congress. Several Oklahoma Community Action leaders are featured in the video. Video

OKACAA Launches Statewide
Individual Development Account Funding Drive

OKACAA has launched a fundraising drive to establish a statewide Individual Development Account (IDA) program called "Expanding Opportunities for Success." IDAs are micro grants that match low income individuals' own funds and help them achieve financial success by obtaining an education, opening a small business or buying their own home. Jay Hannah who is Executive Vice President of Financial Services at BancFirst in Oklahoma City was the special guest speaker at a kick-off event held in conjunction with OKACAA's 50th Anniversary Annual Conference in Midwest City. Hannah spoke about President Lyndon Johnson's War on Poverty -- calling it unfinished business after five decades. What's going on here needs doing, he said. He termed it work that matters.

Full Story

Southwest Enterprises Provides Jobs for People with Disabilities
Southwest Oklahoma Community Action Group is providing meaningful employment for adults with disabilities through Southwest Enterprises. Debby Tunning is the Program Director. Clients produce a variety of products that are sold though a store at the workshop site in Altus. Full Story

Rebecca Reynolds Named Little Dixie Community Action Agency Executive Director
Rebecca "Becky" Reynolds has been named executive director of Little Dixie Community Action Agency. She replaces Brenda Needham who has retired after 38 years of service in multiple positions including executive director since 2009. Full Story

OKACAA Offers Required 'Weatherization Essentials' Training
Johnny Field, Weatherization Program Training Director for OKACAA, has been providing a series of classes required by the Oklahoma Department of Commerce for weatherization workers on "Weatherization Essentials." Full Story

50th Anniversary Poverty War Chief Sargent Shriver Visited Oklahoma in 1966
Sargent Shriver who was the first director of the Office of Economic Opportunity, which administered the Community Action program, visited Oklahoma in 1966. He met with Andy Anderson who was then Director of the Community Action Agency in Grady County and visited four projects. Full Story

Oklahoma Poverty Profile Issued
The Oklahoma Policy Institute has issued its annual Poverty Profile. It is a concise two-page fact sheet of state-level poverty statistics. Just over 625,000 Oklahomans lived in poverty in 2013, or about one in six residents. Fact Sheet

Upcoming Events
Region VI Head Start Institute November 10-13 Hyatt Regency Albuquerque Albuquerque, New Mexico Information Community Action Partnership Management & Leadership Conference January 6-8, 2015 Marriott Laguna Cliffs Dana Point, California Information

About Community Action Agencies

Community Action Agencies are locally controlled non-profit organizations that work to improve the lives of low-income individuals by creating opportunities for increased self sufficiency and greater participation in the community. The Oklahoma Association of Community Action Agencies provides advocacy, information, education, and technical assistance for its members.