What Is Community Action?

Community Action is a movement of neighbors helping neighbors. Here at LifeWorks, we believe when we all contribute what we can - whether that be time, expertise, resources, or financial gifts - we can build a brighter future for our neighbors and our community.

This is important because everyone deserves the opportunity to achieve their goals. But it can be incredibly difficult for many to do so in Saratoga County and the Northern Capital Region because the high cost of living makes it hard to get ahead. The minimum survival budget for a family of four is more than $70,000 in Saratoga County, which according to the NYS United Way ALICE Report, leaves 25,000 households struggling to make ends meet, right here in our own communities.

You can be part of the solution. You are officially invited to be a part of neighbors helping neighbors. If you have questions about how to get involved, please contact Gwen Matson at g.matson@lifeworksaction.org or call 518-288-3206, or visit our donate, volunteer, or survey pages to learn more.

When you become part of the Community Action Movement, you are becoming part of a local effort to improve our community as well as joining thousands of others across the country to improve America. Read on to see what it means to be part of the community action movement and work with a community action agency.

Community Action Across the Country

In 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Economic Opportunity Act to create a network of Community Action Agencies across the country as part of the War on Poverty and the Civil Rights Movement. This created agencies, including ours, that were charged with fighting poverty at the local level within our community.

Today, that network is more than 1,000 agencies strong, and together, we serve 98 percent of counties across the country. We remain at the crossroads of the economic and social justice movements.

Community Action Agency is an official status as a result of an explicit designation by local or state government. LifeWorks Community Action is designated by the NYS Department of State. Like all Community Action Agencies, we are governed by a tripartite board that is made up of public, private and low-income community representatives.

Our goal is to take a comprehensive approach to service coordination that helps the whole person and addresses their multiple needs because we understand that challenges in one area of life can cause challenges in another. But we also know that success in one can lead to success in many.

We Believe

As a Community Action Agency, We Believe:

● That all people deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.

● Structural race, gender and other inequities remain barriers that must be addressed.

● This nation has the capacity and moral obligation to ensure that no one is forced to endure the hardships of poverty.

● With hope, adequate resources and opportunities, everyone can reach their fullest potential, and we are committed to achieving that vision.

● In creating an environment that pursues innovation and excellence through multi-sector partnership and collaboration.

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The Community Action Promise

“Community Action changes people’s lives, embodies the spirit of hope, improves communities, and makes America a better place to live. We care about the entire community, and we are dedicated to helping people help themselves and each other. ”

— National Community Action Partnership