CAPCA to participate in community action conference

Community Action Program for Central Arkansas (CAPCA) in Conway will participate in the annual conference of the Arkansas Community Action Agencies Association at Embassy Suites Northwest Arkansas in Rogers May 26-28.

CAPCA and the other 15 private, nonprofit community action agencies in the state injected more than $126 million into communities last year to help more than 237,000 people of low and moderate income gain the basic necessities and work toward becoming economically self-sufficient.

Phyliss Fry, executive director of CAPCA, said in a news release, “We’ve helped a lot of people in the last year become more economically stable and advance toward self-sufficiency, and we’re looking forward to celebrating the achievements of the agencies and clients at the conference.” She noted that the agency had received additional funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 that have “helped us expand programs to help many more people.”

She stressed that agency employees “will receive education, training and inspiration that will help us do even more,” adding that “despite the many we’ve helped, many more are in need, in part because of the recession that has caused the loss of jobs and the worsening of the condition of many of elderly and disabled on fixed incomes.”

In the last year, the agency, which has a budget of $11.1 million and employs 117, helped more than 10,000 people in Faulkner, White and Cleburne counties.  

Agency workers, Nora Gomez and Jon Rea have been nominated for an award for their work. A client, from Conway will receive an award for her progress with the help of community action. A board member, Larry Robinson from Bradford will receive an award for his contribution to community action.  In addition to the above mentioned staff, Phyliss Fry, Betty Ann Edwards, Carolyn Mallett and Archie Musselman will be attending the conference.

As part of the conference, the state Legislative Task Force on Reducing Poverty and Promoting Economic Opportunity will conduct a town hall meeting 2-4 p.m. May 26 to help develop a more coordinated, comprehensive effort to reduce poverty, which affects more than 17 percent of the state’s population, according to the latest census figures. State Sen. Joyce Elliott of Little Rock and Rich Huddleston of Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families are co-chairs.

Speakers at the conference will include Rogers Mayor Steve Womack; Rose Adams, executive director of the Arkansas Community Action Agencies Association; and David Bradley of the National Community Action Foundation in Washington. 

The workshops will instruct in a wide range of subjects of vital importance to the progress of community action, including leadership, fiscal management, case management, food and nutrition, board protocol, client services, results-oriented management and accountability and communications. 

More information about community action may be obtained by calling CAPCA at 329-3891, ext. 127.