Community Action in Aroostook, Washington, and Hancock Counties (CAAWHC) is celebrating Community Action Month this May by recognizing the powerful, locally driven work happening every day to help families achieve stability, opportunity, and economic independence throughout the three counties.
For more than 50 years, community action efforts in Aroostook, Washington, and Hancock Counties have supported hardworking families by addressing local needs, strengthening communities, and helping residents build pathways to long-term financial security. While CAAWHC is newly structured as a three-county agency, its roots are deeply connected to decades of community-based action led by and for the people of the region.
“Community Action Month gives us the opportunity to reflect on the real impact our programs have in the lives of our neighbors,” said CAAWHC CEO Jason Parent. “Last year alone, CAAWHC delivered 23,340 services across Aroostook, Washington, and Hancock Counties—connecting families to resources that support employment, financial stability, and self-sufficiency.”
CAAWHC programs are shaped by local voices and local leadership. Each community helps guide priorities through active participation in program development and oversight, ensuring services respond directly to the needs of residents. The agency is governed by a locally controlled board that includes elected officials, community members, and private and public sector representatives which will also soon come from across the three counties.
“We are proud of how engaged our communities are,” Parent said. “Their insight and involvement help us design programs that reflect what Aroostook, Washington, and Hancock Counties actually need—not one-size-fits-all solutions.”
CAAWHC is also a proud member of the national Community Action Network, a collective of nearly 1,000 local agencies working across the country. Together, the network serves more than 15 million people annually by creating opportunity, strengthening local economies, and helping families build skills that reduce reliance on government assistance.
“Being part of the Community Action Network allows us to learn from and contribute to a larger movement, while staying firmly grounded in local priorities,” Parent said. “Community action succeeds because it starts locally—and that’s exactly what we’re committed to doing every day.”
Throughout the month of May, CAAWHC will continue to recognize Community Action Month by dedicating its weekly “Community in Action” radio segments on Downeast radio station Star 97.7 to special topics highlighting the Community Action movement. Listen on air Friday mornings at 6:45 and 8:45 or online anytime at https://star977fm.com/index.php/community-action/
