Community Action Agencies trace their history back forty years to the enactment of the Economic Opportunity Act, which is associated most directly with President Johnson's "War on Poverty." Today, over 1,000 Community Action Agencies fulfill the charge of "addressing the root causes and effects of poverty."

Community Action arrived in Duluth in 1965 as a public agency operated through the City of Duluth. During the first years of the Agency's operation, the emphasis was on providing direct services to low-income people. Among the programs administered were Head Start, remedial reading, child development centers and Neighborhood Youth Corps.

In 1982, Community Action established itself as the Duluth Community Action Program (DCAP), a nonprofit organization, and became independent from the city of Duluth. DCAP took up residence in the Duluth Armory and began to provide services like energy assistance, weatherization and food assistance to the community.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, DCAP formed strong bonds with several community-based organizations and was instrumental in:

• The early development of affordable housing (with Center City Housing Corporation)
• Grassroots organizing around energy conservation and rate hikes (with the Senior Coalition)
• Neighborhood empowerment effort (with West End Community Action and Broad-Based Organizing for a Newer Duluth-BOND)

Unfortunately, DCAP had its state and federal grant funds cut in the late 1990s leading to the lay-off of staff in 1998 and the resignation of its board of directors in 1999.

However, it didn't take long for Community Action to make a comeback. Building on its rich history and commitment to providing for the needs of low-income people in Duluth, DCAP was reborn as Community Action Duluth in 1999. Community Action Duluth's new board of directors recognized that many services addressing the effects of poverty such as homelessness, hunger and clothing were solidly in place in the Duluth community. The board wanted to address poverty in a different way and decided to focus on helping individuals and families move out of poverty. This innovative approach led to programs that address building economic security, family development and changing public policy.

Today, Community Action Duluth's long-range goal is to engage the community by building partnerships that will develop a blueprint for ending poverty in Duluth.

Our mission is to use innovative strategies that mobilize low-income people and the broader community to build assets that prevent poverty, create equality and strengthen our social fabric.

We envision a community where individuals and families can find the means to prosper with access to quality education, affordable housing and healthcare, gainful employment and meaningful involvement in civic life.

We believe that through community coordinated partnerships, low-income people can find the support, resources and relationships that will help them overcome the economic, racial or cultural barriers that have prevented them from establishing and maintaining self-sufficient and connected lives in our community.

Respect
We value the strengths and assets of all people and organizations who are our partners.

Integrity
We believe in listening honestly, processing information accurately and following through on our commitments.

Cultural Competence
We value meaningful relationships between people of diverse cultural, racial and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Optimism
We believe it is possible for Duluth residents and organizations to improve the quality of life for everyone.

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