By Neal Steffl, Worthington
On Thursday, Southwestern Minnesota Opportunity Council Inc. (SMOC), a private nonprofit Community Action Agency (CAA), observed 50 years of existence and service to the residents of southwestern Minnesota. The following is a very brief history of how SMOC came to be.
The President’s Council of Economic Advisers’ Annual Report, published in January 1964, focused on the “Problem of Poverty in America,” pulling together compelling statistics and showing that in a period of unprecedented prosperity, one-fifth of all families and nearly one-fifth of the total U.S. population - 33 to 35 million people - were poor, having incomes below the poverty line (then $3,000 for a family of four)
A “War on Poverty” was declared by President Lyndon B. Johnson in his State of the Union Address on Jan. 8, 1964: “This administration today here and now declares unconditional war on poverty in America. I urge this Congress and all Americans to join me in that effort. ... Poverty is a national problem, requiring improved national organization and support. But this attack, to be effective, must also be organized at the state and local level.”
The Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, authorized the formation of local Community Action Agencies as part of the War on Poverty. The act was amended in 1967, stipulating that local elected officials had the authority to designate the official CAA for their areas. Only after such official recognition could funding a CAA become a reality.
Following the passage of that amendment, county commissioners from Rock, Pipestone, Murray and Nobles counties began working with community organizers and other interested parties to develop and incorporate a CAA to serve the residents of their respective counties. On July 9, 1965, Southwestern Minnesota Opportunity Council Inc. became that CAA. There are currently 27 CAAs in Minnesota, serving every county in the state, and more than 1,000 CAAs nationwide.
Over these fifty years, SMOC and CAAs in general have developed many programs unique to the needs in their service areas. Eligibility for service is typically based on household income. Some SMOC programs have run their course and disappeared. Some were spun off and continue to operate under the auspices of other agencies. Many continue to be delivered by SMOC. Early programming included: Child Development Programs (Head Start), Neighborhood Youth Corps, Employment and Training programs like Operation Mainstream, Green Thumb, On the Job Training, Farm Management, New Careers and Retired Senior Volunteer Programs. Later additions included: Energy Assistance, Home Weatherization, Child Care Resource & Referral, Public Transportation, Home Rehabilitation, Emergency Crisis Assistance and Family Planning.
Over the past fifty years, hundreds of people have touched SMOC in positive ways by serving on our volunteer board of directors, or working and volunteering for the agency. Thousands of residents of southwestern Minnesota have been helped by SMOC in a time of need. To all the residents of southwestern Minnesota, we extend our gratitude for your support over these 50 years.
Visit our website at
www.smoc.us
to learn more about SMOC and the program services it delivers.
