R 229
2016 -- S 2950
Enacted 05/11/2016

S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N
PROCLAIMING MAY, 2016, AS "COMMUNITY ACTION MONTH" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

Introduced By: Senator M. Teresa Paiva Weed
Date Introduced: May 10, 2016

     WHEREAS, In 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the "War on Poverty"
proclamation and introduced initiatives designed to improve access to economic resources, as
well as education, health, skills, and jobs for those struggling to make ends meet; and
     WHEREAS, In order to implement these initiatives, myriad community action agencies
across the country were founded. In the 1970s, the Rhode Island Community Action Association
was established as a statewide network of Community Action Programs (CAP agencies) that
work individually and collectively "to eliminate the causes and effects of poverty and to open
doors to self-sufficiency and better lives"; and
     WHEREAS, The dedicated efforts of the Rhode Island Community Action Association
have helped improve the quality of life for more than 200,000 households, spread throughout all
thirty-nine cities and towns in the State of Rhode Island; and
     WHEREAS, Replacing despair with opportunity, community action agencies have put a
human face on poverty for the past 52 years by advocating for limited-income citizens without a
voice, so that they may enter the middle class and reach for the American dream; and
     WHEREAS, Across the country, millions of Americans have been provided with
essential, life-changing services and opportunities such as affordable housing, economic
development, health care, energy assistance, natural relief and recovery, and through these
agencies efforts to build and promote self-sufficiency and stability for families across our state,
Rhode Island's communities and our state has grown economically stronger; now, therefore be it
     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
hereby proclaims May, 2016, to be "Community Action Month" in recognition of the dedicated
efforts of the Rhode Island Community Action Association; and be it further
     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to
transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Ms. Paula M. McFarland, BA, Executive
Director, Rhode Island Community Action Association.
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LC005775
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