“My parents had always preached the virtues of hard work. But hard work is one thing; economic struggle is another” Sargent Shriver
Sargent Shriver may have been best known as the driving force behind the Peace Corps. But he, via President Lyndon Johnson’s “War on Poverty,” developed several anti-poverty programs including community action, Head Start, VISTA, Job Corps, Neighborhood Health Services, and Legal Services. He deeply understood the challenges of low-income families. The lack of affordable and decent housing, limited opportunities for education, training and living wage jobs, structural race and gender inequities and public policy resulted in keeping the poor, poor. No matter how hard they worked, they just couldn’t get ahead.
This year we recognize CAP Services’ 45th anniversary of “creating permanent increases in the ability of low-income individuals to achieve emotional and economic self-sufficiency.” Over time, the work has evolved. Contrast the early fuel assistance program with current energy conservation programs like weatherization, designed not only to reduce current energy costs but our longer-term needs for energy. Contrast CAP’s early summer youth employment programs with the current Fresh Start Program. CAP learned a wider and deeper breadth of services was needed to truly create behavior change that allows young people to fully engage in their communities
CAP’s Jobs and Business Development Program has grown to include access to affordable gap financing. Technical assistance services alone, particularly for individuals perceived as risky by conventional lenders, is not enough in itself to generate job creation. Head Start has grown to include services to pregnant women and children from birth to three, child care services and collaborative four-year old kindergarten projects with school districts. CAP’s Family Crisis Center has not only provided a safe place to stay for those effected by domestic violence but offers specialized services for children and Hmong families, housing options for those choosing to set up a household separate from their abuser and programs to facilitate behavior changes in perpetrators.
We believe the impact of CAP’s 45 years of work honors the spirit of Sargent Shriver and reflects our promise to “transform people and communities”.
Thank you.