(Olympia, WA) – 2019 marks the 55th year since Community Action was established to help American families and communities fight the War on Poverty. 30
agencies across Washington State, and over 1,000 across the country, are working every day to create pathways for people living on low-incomes to find
individual, family, and community prosperity.
“Each May, during Community Action Month, we reflect on the impact our network has had on families,” said Merritt Mount, Executive Director of the
Washington State Community Action Partnership. “Last year alone, our agencies helped over 678,000 Washingtonians living on low
incomes access immediate resources like food and shelter, as well as critical long-term pathways out of poverty like education and job placement.
Over 15 million people nationally felt the impact of Community Action.”
Community Action Agencies serve all 39 counties in Washington with life-changing services to help families achieve financial stability.
All agencies are locally controlled and guided by the private, public, and low-income sectors of the community.
“We believe people thrive when communities thrive,” said Mount. “Direct community engagement, especially with low-income people, ensures
our Community Action agencies create local solutions to local challenges, while identifying larger inequities that require networkwide advocacy.”
Washington Governor Jay Inslee issued a Proclamation declaring May 2019 Community Action Month in Washington State.
In it, he said, “…Community Action builds and promotes economic stability as an essential aspect of enabling and enhancing stronger communities,
which in turn promotes self-sufficiency, ensuring that all Washingtonians are able to live in dignity;”
