*By Maggie Batangan*
Maggie Batangan – Executive Director of Maui Economic Opportunity, Inc.
May marks Community Action Month – a nationwide event to commemorate the
value and meaning of the work of Community Action Agencies. At Maui
Economic Opportunity, Inc. (MEO), we are proud to be Maui County’s
Community Action Agency, a designation that dates back to 1965.
Our history is entwined with both federal and local government and offers a
good perspective on why Community Action remains a critical partner to
government agencies. In 1964, President Lyndon Johnson signed the Economic
Opportunity Act as part of his “War on Poverty” to “eliminate the paradox
of poverty in the midst of plenty.” The Act established Community Action
Agencies (CAAs) to fight poverty by empowering low-income families and
individuals to secure opportunities and become self-sufficient. Over 1,000
CAAs were established nationwide.
Our 1965 charter states that one of our purposes is to “promote the
mobilization and utilization of public and private resources, and to enlist
the participation of residents in the community.” From the start, we were
meant to fill gaps, acting as a more nimble extension of public programs
and initiatives.
Federal legislation envisioned local CAAs as an extension of local
government. In fact, many nationwide chose to organize as a public agency.
In Maui County, the choice was made to establish a private agency, one that
would give the community a voice and allow for flexible responses to
community problems.
In 1968 the federal government required local jurisdictions to formally
designate their CAAs. Then-Chairman and Executive Officer Elmer Cravalho
designated MEO as the County’s Community Action Agency, establishing an
effective public-private partnership spanning over 60 years. Cravalho was a
champion for MEO who also served as Maui’s very first Mayor, and the first
Speaker of the Hawaii House of Representatives.
As a CAA, MEO continues to be funded in part by the Community Services
Block Grant (CSBG). CSBG is federal funding that empowers local communities
by cutting red tape, reducing government dependency, and driving
private-sector job creation. With strong accountability and a commitment to
financial prudence, CSBG delivers measurable results, keeping decisions in
local hands where they belong.
Today, MEO has more than 30 programs based on community needs. We listen to
the community and develop programs based on their needs – rather than what
we think they need. In the spirit of Community Action, our trademark has
become the ability to stand up programs quickly while also adhering to
high-standards of accountability.
While much has changed over time, the effectiveness of Community Action is
shown in the ongoing community impact of MEO in Maui County. We continue to
support government initiatives, fill gaps, and use diverse resources in our
quest of “Helping People. Changing Lives.”
Maggie Batangan is the Executive Director of Maui Economic Opportunity, Inc.