2020 NECAP Fall Virtual Symposium

Award-winning scholar, author, and visionary community leader.

Several key events of this past year pushed deep seeded issues of racial injustice and equity, income inequality, and health disparities to the forefront. Across the nation, social justice movements are working to ensure everyone has the same economic, political, and social rights and opportunities. Community Action’s history is rooted in grassroots advocacy efforts and mobilizing communities. Hear from several Community Action Agencies in the region about innovative ways they are effectively connecting with their community to address and be a part of the social justice movement through engagement, partnerships, outreach and more. Leona Whetzel, MOC

When a crisis hits, how do you support your community, agency, and staff simultaneously? How can you respond to the crisis at hand in the moment, while continuing to plan for your agency’s future? In the wake of COVID-19, Community Action Agency leaders reflect on lessons learned, strategic planning approaches, improved procedures, and how they ensure their staff have the tools and resources needed to thrive – so they can effectively serve customers in need. Lena Rodriguez, CRT; Pam Kuechler, PACE

This session will discuss the issues of health disparities and health equity and the role that community-based organizations, such as Community Action Agencies, can play in bringing health equity to vulnerable populations. Tekisha Everette, Health Equity Solutions; Panel: Rilwan Feyisitan, CAAP; Michael Collins, CTI

Access to reliable internet/broadband is critical to work, learn, conduct business, and access healthcare services remotely. Low income households often lack this access, putting them further behind the curve. Are your customers able to navigate the digital divide and achieve the desired outcome? Has the outcome changed because of the digital divide and how have your CAA’s services changed to address barriers and adapt? Planning is a key element in the Results Oriented Management and Accountability (ROMA) cycle. Did your comprehensive needs assessment identify the digital divide as a barrier? Why or why not? This session focuses on the planning and policy role of CAAs within the digital divide. Are we planning to elevate? Have we thought about a policy design? What is a technology design for the organization’s health and/or community? This session is only the beginning of the CAA Network’s strategic investment in planning. Dr. Nicol Turner-Lee, Brookings Institute and Antwuan Wallace, Urban Research Strategies & Logistics

After a tumultuous year, what’s next for the Community Action movement? Join our national partners for a discussion around how we as a network can play a key role the issues and themes covered over the past two days, empower the people we serve, and move forward together. Moderator: Deb Polun, CAFCA; Panel: Denise Harlow, Community Action Partnership; David Bradley, National Community Action Foundation, NCAF; Jenae Bjelland, NASCSP; and, Allison Ma’luf, CAPLAW