Arkansas Community Action Agencies Association - ACAAA

05/31/2026

Let's talk LIHEAP ROI in Arkansas!

05/29/2026

💙 Support Community Action. Strengthen Arkansas Communities. 💙

Did you know that the Arkansas Community Action Agencies Association (ACAAA) serves as the statewide resource hub for Community Action in Arkansas?

Every day, we work alongside our member agencies, partners, and stakeholders to strengthen communities, support families, advocate for policies that reduce poverty, and create pathways to self-sufficiency across all 75 counties of Arkansas.

Your support helps us:
✅ Provide training and technical assistance to Community Action Agencies
✅ Advocate for programs and policies that support Arkansas families
✅ Advance innovative initiatives focused on economic mobility and self-sufficiency
✅ Convene statewide conversations around poverty, workforce development, housing, education, and community well-being
✅ Build partnerships that bring resources and opportunities to local communities

Whether large or small, every dollar makes a difference and helps us continue serving as a voice for Community Action throughout Arkansas.

If you believe in creating opportunity, strengthening families, and empowering communities, we invite you to support our work.

💙 Click here to make a donation:
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/support-community-action-in-arkansas

Together, we can continue building pathways to opportunity and ensuring that every Arkansan has the chance to thrive.

"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." ~ Helen KellerBy donating to community action in Arkansas, you are not just giving money—you are giving hope, opportunity, and the resources needed to build a brighter future for individuals and families across the state. Donating to communi...

05/29/2026

Click below to check out this week's edition of The ACAAA Launch Pad!

Arkansas Community Action Agencies Association (ACAAA) is proud to announce its 2026–2027 Board Officers, whose leadership, experience, and commitment to Community Action will help guide the Network as it continues strengthening communities and advancing pathways toward self-sufficiency across Ark...

05/29/2026

We should all be ROMA Thinkers! Email us at [email protected] to register for this 3-day series!!!

The ACAAA Summer Intro to ROMA Series is Just Around the Corner!

ACAAA is excited to announce our Summer Intro to ROMA Series led by Jim Masters of the Center for Community Futures and Tomekia Moore of ACAAA!

Whether you are brand new to ROMA or simply looking to refresh your understanding, this series is designed for everyone across the Community Action Network. ROMA is more than a requirement — it is a system of accountability and intentional thinking that helps strengthen efficiencies, improve outcomes, and connect the work happening across our agencies and communities.

This training series is a great opportunity to:

Refresh your ROMA thinking
Build a foundational understanding of ROMA principles
Strengthen knowledge around accountability and performance management
Explore how ROMA connects to the broader mission of Community Action
Learn practical ways ROMA supports agency effectiveness and impact

📅 Dates: June 8–10
⏰ Time: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. daily
📍 Virtual Training Series

Email us at [email protected] to receive the registration link!

And yes — by popular demand — we’re bringing back ROMA Jeopardy! 🎉

Each day, participants will have an opportunity to compete and win a $25 Visa gift card during our interactive ROMA Jeopardy rounds. It’s time to put those ROMA thinking caps on and have some fun while learning together!

We encourage agency leadership, frontline staff, board members, program teams, and emerging leaders to participate. Strong ROMA understanding helps strengthen our entire Network.

We look forward to learning and growing together this summer!

05/29/2026

We are welcoming sponsoring partners, workforce/industry partners, and resource vendor partners for this event!!!!

05/29/2026

This week’s Voices for Change: Centering Local Voice and Choice was a powerful reminder that sustainable change happens when communities are not just included in the conversation — but centered within it.

The session was filled with invigorating dialogue, meaningful engagement, and authentic conversations that elevated the power of local voice across Arkansas. Participants brought passion, lived experience, and innovative ideas to the table as we explored what it truly means to build pathways toward long-term self-sufficiency with communities, not simply for them.

We extend a sincere thank you to our incredible guest contributors:

* Victoria Mays of Arkansas Impact Philanthropy
* Jimmy Sanders of Mid-Delta Community. Services
* Kymara Seals of SDR Consulting

Each speaker brought a unique and valuable perspective that helped shape an incredible source of engagement for everyone on the call.

One perspective centered civic engagement and the importance of empowering communities to actively shape the decisions impacting their future. Another reflected the realities of service delivery and the “boots on the ground” work happening every day within communities. And another focused on U.S. Census and 2030 Census engagement — highlighting why representation, participation, and accurate community data matter in the fight against poverty and inequity.

Together, these perspectives created a dynamic conversation rooted in collaboration, possibility, and action.

Arkansas Pathways to Self-Sufficiency continues to drive a solution-oriented approach to addressing the complexities of poverty across our state. The initiative is focused on strengthening local ecosystems, increasing opportunity, amplifying community voice, and building pathways that lead individuals and families toward economic mobility and long-term stability. Through local engagement, public-private partnerships, and collaborative action, we are working to create stronger, healthier, and more resilient communities across Arkansas.

We would love for you to get involved and join us at our upcoming events:

📍Arkansas Pathways Local Forum
Helena-West Helena at Phillips Community College
🗓 June 15
🕔 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM

📍Pathways in Action: Community Impact Day (Tentatively Scheduled)
Saracen Landing Pavilion in Pine Bluff
🕙 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM

This exciting community event will include:
✔️ A mini job fair
✔️ On-the-spot interviews with workforce industry partners
✔️ Delicious grilled food for families
✔️ Music, fun, resources, and community engagement

We are excited to already have Central Moloney, Inc. signed on as a workforce industry partner conducting on-the-spot interviews during the event. We are currently seeking 2–3 additional manufacturers and workforce industry partners to join us.

We are also looking for:
🔹 Sponsoring partners
🔹 Resource vendors
🔹 Community collaborators

If you would like to support or participate in any of these events, contact us at [email protected] to get involved.

Come out, connect, engage, and be a part of building pathways toward opportunity and positive change across Arkansas.

05/28/2026

Arkansas Community Action Agencies Association (ACAAA) is proud to announce its 2026–2027 Board Officers, whose leadership, experience, and commitment to Community Action will help guide the Network as it continues strengthening communities and advancing pathways toward self-sufficiency across Arkansas.

The newly appointed officers include:

President: Rep. Jeremy Wooldridge, CRDC
Vice President: Leslie Paschal Barnes, CSO
Secretary: Randy Morris, CADC
Treasurer: Jimmy Sanders, MDCS
Immediate Past President: Delia Anderson, EOA

As ACAAA continues building momentum through statewide initiatives, strategic partnerships, and collaborative engagement efforts, strong leadership and a clear vision remain more important than ever. The Community Action Network is operating during a time of evolving community needs, growing opportunities, and increasing demand for innovative, community-driven solutions that address the complexities of poverty across Arkansas.

This new leadership team brings diverse perspectives, agency expertise, and a shared commitment to strengthening the statewide Network while supporting local agencies and the communities they serve. Together, these leaders will help guide conversations around workforce development, transportation access, healthcare, housing stability, food security, economic mobility, and community engagement — all while helping position Arkansas Community Action agencies for long-term sustainability and impact.

The leadership transition also comes at an important moment for ACAAA as the organization continues advancing the Arkansas Pathways to Self-Sufficiency Initiative, a statewide coalition effort focused on developing holistic strategies that address barriers facing Arkansas families and communities. Through this work, ACAAA and its partners are helping elevate local voice, strengthen partnerships, and cultivate opportunities that support stronger pathways toward self-sufficiency.

ACAAA also extends sincere appreciation to Immediate Past President Delia Anderson for her dedicated leadership, service, and unwavering commitment to the Community Action Network throughout her tenure. Her leadership helped strengthen collaboration and advance important conversations that continue shaping the future of Community Action in Arkansas.

As the organization looks ahead, ACAAA remains encouraged by the collective strength of the Network and optimistic about the opportunities before us. Through strong leadership, intentional collaboration, and a clear vision for the future, Community Action agencies across Arkansas will continue making meaningful impact in the lives of individuals, families, and communities statewide.

Together, we are not only responding to challenges — we are helping shape solutions, strengthen communities, and build a stronger Arkansas for generations to come.
Crowley's Ridge Development Council, Inc. - CRDC
EOA of Washington County Head Start/Early Head Start
Community Services Office
Central Arkansas Development Council
Mid-Delta Community Services, Inc.

05/28/2026

📣 Arkansas Pathways to Self-Sufficiency Stakeholders 📣

We are excited to announce that the Arkansas Pathways to Self-Sufficiency Initiative will host our 2nd Local Forum of the year in Helena-West Helena!

📍 Phillips Community College
1000 Campus Drive
Helena-West Helena, AR 72342

This important community conversation is being hosted by the local Community Action Agency, Mid-Delta Community Services.

The forum will center on open discussion around the challenges impacting communities across the region — and more importantly, the solutions that can be created together. This will be a well-rounded conversation bringing together practitioners, legislators, community leaders, and everyday Arkansas families because every voice matters and every perspective is valuable.

🗣️ We want to hear from everyone!

The feedback gathered through these forums is helping inform the development of a statewide Self-Sufficiency Model that will strengthen Arkansas’ approach toward eradicating poverty and increasing opportunities for families and communities across the state.

The Arkansas Pathways to Self-Sufficiency Initiative is a collaborative effort focused on elevating local voices, identifying barriers to economic mobility, and building sustainable pathways that empower Arkansans to thrive. Through community conversations, partnerships, and action-driven strategies, we are working to create solutions that are informed by the people most impacted.

Your voices are critical to this process, and together we can help shape a stronger future for Arkansas communities.

💙 We hope you will join us as we continue building pathways, creating opportunity, and proving that lasting change begins when communities come together.

Email us at [email protected] to let us know you're attending or you just want to get involved!



Mid-Delta Community Services, Inc.

05/28/2026

We're celebrating 52 years of service at the state association! There's still time to enter our Community Action Month 50 for 52 Contest for your chance to win a $50 Visa gift card!

🎉 CLOSE OUT COMMUNITY ACTION MONTH WITH A BANG! 🎉

As we prepare to wrap up National Community Action Month, we're celebrating in a big way with our **50 for 52 Contest!**

For **52 years**, Arkansas Community Action Agencies Association has proudly worked alongside local Community Action Agencies across Arkansas to strengthen communities, create opportunities, and help individuals and families move toward greater stability and self-sufficiency. Through partnerships, advocacy, workforce development, education, housing assistance, and countless other supports, Community Action has been helping communities not simply respond to challenges—but build pathways to brighter futures.

For more than five decades, this work has been rooted in one belief: when communities come together and invest in people, lives change.

Now we want to hear from YOU — because every story matters.

💵 **WIN A $50 VISA GIFT CARD!** 💵

Here's how to enter:

✅ LIKE this post
✅ COMMENT on this post and share **how Community Action has impacted your life**
✅ SHARE this post

That's it! All **three steps are required** to be entered into the drawing.

📅 **Contest closes: May 31st**
📢 **Winner announced: June 1st**

As we celebrate Community Action Month and 52 years of impact across Arkansas, we also celebrate the people, families, and communities at the center of this work. Thank you for being part of this journey and for helping us continue building stronger communities and brighter futures across our state.

05/27/2026

Across Arkansas, many families are working hard every single day and still finding it difficult to make ends meet. These are ALICE households — Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed — families who are earning above the federal poverty line but still struggling with the rising costs of housing, childcare, transportation, healthcare, and everyday necessities.

This is where Community Action matters.

Arkansas Community Action Agencies are helping build the bridge for ALICE families across our state. We know that a paycheck alone does not always equal stability, and families often need more than a temporary solution. Through workforce development, housing assistance, financial literacy, family support services, transportation assistance, education pathways, and local partnerships, Community Action works to connect people not only to resources, but to opportunities.

We are helping families move from surviving to thriving — creating pathways toward self-sufficiency and stronger futures.

Because behind every ALICE statistic is a parent working two jobs, a family making impossible choices, a caregiver stretching every dollar, and a community that becomes stronger when we invest in one another.

Community Action isn't simply filling gaps. We are building bridges across Arkansas — one family, one opportunity, and one community at a time.