At Community Assistance Network, Inc. (CAN). they are Tony Coffield, CAN’s Executive Director, and Deborah Harris, President of CAN’s Board of Directors. They hope it is easy to navigate, informative and useful the same way CAN is in reality. As a private, nonprofit, community action agency, CAN responds to local needs. Community action agencies were established 40 years ago as part of President Lyndon Johnsons War on Poverty legislation known as the 1964 Equal Opportunity Act. CAN celebrated its own 40 year anniversary in October-November, 2005. The legislation was far-sighted enough to ensure three things. First, that the structure of the agency would be adaptable to local issues and new trends. Second, that the required tripartite Board of Directors (1/3 elected and appointed government officials, 1/3 private citizens, and 1/3 low income people or their advocates) maintained maximum feasible participation from all sectors of the jurisdictions served. Third, and most important, the flexibility and grassroots nature of each agency would enable them to follow through on their basic goal: Helping People. Changing Lives.

For more information, please visit http://www.canconnects.org