ADVOCAP and Community Action: Part of a Nationwide Network

As ADVOCAP marks 60 years of supporting our community, we have the opportunity to reflect not only on our local history, but also the history of Community Action and our role in the national Community Action network. Founded in 1966 as a Community Action Agency, ADVOCAP was established within a nationwide framework designed to strengthen communities by working alongside individuals and families to create opportunities and increase self-sufficiency.

The Roots of Community Action

Community Action began in the 1960s, stemming from a national focus on expanding opportunities for economic stability. In 1964, the passage of the Economic Opportunity Act, signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson, established the Community Action Program (CAP). This program led to the creation of locally governed organizations, known as Community Action Agencies (CAAs), established to increase self-sufficiency and address social and economic needs at the community level. This approach recognized that local needs are most effectively identified and addressed through collaboration with local individuals, families, and organizations. In 1981, CAP, along with several related initiatives, was reorganized under the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG), shifting greater responsibility from the federal government to states to oversee and distribute funding to local agencies. CSBG currently serves as a core funding source for CAAs across the country.

A Nationwide Network

Today, around 1,000 CAAs work in 99 percent of counties across the U.S., supporting individuals, families, and communities through locally developed programs and services. While CAAs often work directly with low-income individuals and families, the purpose of that work extends beyond individual outcomes. By increasing self-sufficiency through programs in areas such as education, health, housing, and employment, Community Action supports the social and economic health of communities as a whole.

Community-Led Governance

One of the defining features of CAAs is their tripartite (three-part) board structure, which is required under federal law for agencies receiving CSBG funding. This structure ensures that governance reflects a balance of perspectives, with one-third of members democratically selected from low-income individuals and families in the service area, one-third consisting of current elected officials, and one-third drawn from private-sector and community groups such as business, industry, labor, education, religious organizations, education, or law enforcement. This model was intentionally designed to ensure that low-income representatives have a voice in shaping local priorities, alongside public and private leaders, reinforcing the idea that strong communities are built through shared responsibility and participation.

ADVOCAP in the Community Action Network

60 years ago, ADVOCAP was founded within this national Community Action network and guided by the promise of Community Action: changing lives, embodying hope, improving communities, and making the U.S. a better place to live. While we provide supports that respond to local needs in Fond du Lac, Green Lake, and Winnebago Counties, our work is rooted in creating opportunities for the entire community and helping people help themselves and one another. We support individuals and families in building self-sufficiency while contributing to the long-term social and economic stability of the communities where we work.

As we mark six decades of impact, our connection to the Community Action network shows that our history isn’t a standalone story, but part of a collective effort to strengthen communities across the country.