08/20/2026
62 years ago, a commitment to expanding economic opportunity helped launch a movement that continues today.
The Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 helped establish Community Action and a powerful idea: communities are stronger when people have access to the resources, skills, and opportunities they need to build their own path forward.
At Charlotte Area Fund, that legacy continues through workforce development, education and training, financial empowerment, supportive services and partnerships that help individuals and families move toward greater economic stability and self-sufficiency.
Much has changed since 1964. But the belief at the heart of Community Action remains:
Opportunity can change the trajectory of a life.
We are proud to carry that work forward in Mecklenburg County.
ON THIS DAY IN 1964 — Today, we commemorate the 62nd anniversary of the signing of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, a key piece of legislation that laid the foundation for alleviating poverty and uplifting low-income individuals and families across the country.
On August 20, 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson declared an “unconditional war on poverty” by signing this landmark act, and from that moment forward, Community Action Agencies (CAAs) have been at the forefront of the fight for economic justice and equity.
The Act made possible programs such as Head Start, giving children a strong educational foundation, as well as weatherization and utility assistance, food and housing services, job training, and senior support programs that help people live with dignity and independence.
What made Community Action unique in 1964 remains true today: the commitment to self-sufficiency and the belief that people know best what their own communities need.
NCCAA and our agencies continue to build on the promise of the Economic Opportunity Act—helping people and changing lives across North Carolina.
