Panhandle Community Services marks 60 years of Economic Opportunity Act, set to be awarded at national conference

AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) – Panhandle Community Services announced that its staff will attend the National Community Action Partnership Conference at the end of August and receive a Promise in Action Award for its efforts as a Community Action Agency, and highlighted its history in recognition of the 60th anniversary of the Economic Opportunity Act that allowed for its creation.

According to PCS, the EOA was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson on Aug. 20, 1964, as milestone federal legislation noted as part of his “war on poverty” and “great society” domestic programs. The act launched Medicare and Medicaid as well as established social programs aimed at facilitating health, education, employment and general welfare for people experiencing poverty in the United States.

“For in your time we have the opportunity to move not only toward the rich society and the powerful society, but upward to the Great Society,” said Johnson of the program, “The Great Society rests on abundance and liberty for all. It demands an end to poverty and racial injustice, to which we are committed in our time. But that is just the beginning.”

The act also created Community Action Agencies to “be boots on the ground, know the needs of their community, and how to best bring stability,” said PCS, which was created as a Community Action Agency after the legislation.

PCS offers community members programs and resources related to housing and utility bill assistance, transportation, tax preparation, health insurance navigation, family development and others as part of its ongoing effort to end poverty in the Texas Panhandle.

As noted by PCS, its staff will attend the National Community Action Partnership Conference in Seattle, Wash. from Aug. 28-30 and receive a Promise in Action Award in recognition of its daily community efforts and its disaster response efforts related to flooding and tornadoes in 2023 and the early 2024 wildfires.

“Over the last year, our region has faced numerous natural disasters in 12 out of the 26 counties in the Texas Panhandle,” said Denese Skinner, MEd, LPC-S, Interim President of Amarillo College, “In every case, the staff at PCS jumped into action to provide resources and assistance, and they continue to work tirelessly to help those affected by the disasters to recover and stabilize their lives. This service functions adjacent to the work they do each day in their typical jobs serving their ongoing clients.”

Further, PCS said that two of its staff – Family Services Director Audra Rea and Assistant Director of Family Development Lori Covil – will receive their Certified Community Action Professional credentials and be recognized during the conference. The certification, said PCS, “recognizes individuals who have demonstrated knowledge and application of the core competencies required to effectively carry out the vision, mission, purpose and values of the Community Action Movement.”

“We in Community Action see a better world, one where there is no poverty,” said PCS in its announcement recognizing the anniversary and the upcoming conference, “Here we are 60 years later still fighting back. It is still a valid dream we keep working toward.”

More information about PCS and its resources and programs can be found here.

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