Moving from Poverty Toward Prosperity: Welcome to Our September Tenant Spotlight, Community Action, Inc.
Welcome to September at the Community Resources Council! As we transition from an incredible month celebrating First Tee – Greater Topeka, we are thrilled to turn our spotlight toward our next amazing CARE Center tenant: Community Action, Inc.
If you step into the CRC CARE Center, you’ll find organizations dedicated to lifting our community higher every single day. For the month of September, we are proud to feature an agency that has been a cornerstone of support in Kansas for decades, guiding individuals on a powerful journey defined by their core mission: "Helping people move from poverty toward prosperity."
Rooted in History, Driven by Purpose
Community Action, Inc. traces its deep roots back to the national War on Poverty and the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964. Recognizing that communities needed locally driven organizations focused explicitly on addressing the causes and conditions of poverty, the agency started its local work in 1970, incorporated in 1972, and received its federal tax-exempt recognition in July of that same year.
For more than 60 years across a nationwide network—and over five decades right here locally—Community Action has evolved alongside changing family and community needs. Yet, their foundational purpose has never wavered: to help people help themselves and each other.
A Whole-Person Approach Across 12 Counties
Community Action, Inc. serves individuals and families experiencing economic hardship across 12 Kansas counties: Clay, Cloud, Dickinson, Ellsworth, Geary, Lincoln, McPherson, Ottawa, Russell, Saline, Shawnee, and Wabaunsee.
The challenges families face are rarely isolated. A household struggling to pay rent might simultaneously face high utility costs, transportation barriers, childcare needs, food insecurity, or unstable employment. Because poverty is complex, Community Action looks at the whole person and the whole family. Their core programs include:
Head Start and Early Head Start: Providing comprehensive early childhood education and family support.
Family & Community Outcomes (FCO): Connecting families with rent and utility assistance, rapid rehousing, food assistance, commodities, hygiene resources, and direct referrals.
Affordable Housing: Providing safe and stable housing opportunities.
Family Empowerment and Resource Navigation: Helping individuals identify goals, overcome barriers, and connect with lasting community resources.
A Powerful Partnership Under One Roof
Community Action, Inc. moved its main offices to the CRC CARE Center on August 22, 2014. Being part of a CRC CARE Center allows them to connect seamlessly to a larger network of organizations working toward a stronger Topeka.
Because community needs are deeply interconnected, no single organization can address them alone. Proximity fosters collaboration, shared knowledge, and direct referrals that ultimately extend their reach and benefit the families who walk through their doors.
Looking Ahead All Month Long
Over the next four weeks, we will dive deeper into Community Action's inspiring "hero" stories of stability, look at the hidden realities of poverty that people often misunderstand, share upcoming volunteer opportunities like the Nancy Perry Day of Caring, and highlight their rich local history—including the fact that Mr. Jack Alexander, the first African American to serve on the Topeka City Commission, helped establish the agency as its first Board President in 1972!
To learn more right now, visit the Community Action, Inc. website or connect with them via their Facebook page.