Community Assistance Network

We are a private, nonprofit, community action agency, CAN responds to local needs. Community action agencies were established over 50 years ago as part of President Lyndon Johnson’s War on Poverty legislation known as the 1964 Equal Opportunity Act. CAN celebrated its own 58 year anniversary in November, 2020. The legislation was far-sighted enough to ensure three things. First, that the structure of the agency would be adaptable to local issues and new trends. Second, that the required tripartite Board of Directors (1/3 elected and appointed government officials, 1/3 private citizens, and 1/3 low income people or their advocates) maintained “maximum feasible participation” from all sectors of the jurisdictions served. Third, and most important, the flexibility and grassroots nature of each agency would enable us to follow through on our basic goal: “Helping People. Changing Lives.” Along with our flexibility and grassroots status, Community Assistance Network is part of a larger network of community action agencies. We are one of 17 members of the Maryland Community Action Partnership and one of more than agencies who make up the National Community Action Partnership. Other related community action agency organizations that we belong to are the National Community Action Foundation and CAPLAW. There is also a political action committee that advocates for community action programs known as CAP-PAC.