For the Common Good; Clyburn Touts Success of OCAB at 50th Anniversary Celebration

Press Release

Sixth District Congressman Jim Clyburn on Wednesday declared the War on Poverty has not failed, citing the success of a local agency celebrating its 50th year.

Clyburn's remarks came Wednesday during the golden anniversary celebration of the Orangeburg-Calhoun-Allendale-Bamberg Community Action Agency Inc. OCAB, a private, nonprofit entity, began as the Orangeburg Area Committee for Economic Progress in August 1966.

President Lyndon Johnson launched a set of domestic programs in the nation from 1964 to 1965 called The Great Society. In his plan to defeat poverty, Johnson developed the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964. As part of that act, more than 1,000 community action agencies were established at the local level to implement Great Society programs.

Government, community, civic and church leaders gathered at Edisto Fork United Methodist Church Family Christian Center to help OCAB celebrate the milestone.

EOA initiatives included, but were not limited to, programs including Head Start, Job Corps, Volunteers in Service to America, Neighborhood Youth Corps and work-study programs for university students.

Clyburn said the continued viability of such programs is proof that the War on Poverty has not failed.

"Just take some time to read the history of the creation of the Office of Economic Opportunity. It was mandated that there be community involvement. Head Start mandated community involvement to make sure we did not have those programs run like businesses," the congressman said.

"They were not there to make a profit. They were there to give children a chance. They were there to keep communities uplifted. They were there to give people experiences, and that's why they exist to this day," Clyburn said.

"In order for this community to work, in order for this state to work, in order for this nation to work, we have to learn to respect everybody's experiences. … If you go back and you read the principles of which community action agencies were created, you will find those were the principles," Clyburn said.

Citizens developed and delivered special services for disadvantaged residents in Orangeburg and Calhoun counties through OCAB's early beginnings as the Orangeburg Area Committee for Economic Progress. The committee received a $66,000 planning grant from the federal Office of Economic Opportunity and the initially sponsored programs included: neighborhood service centers, Operation Mainstream, Neighborhood Youth Corps and Summer Head Start.

"There were a lot of dire predictions as to what the future held for these economic opportunity programs that started with the creation of the Economic Opportunity Act back in 1964. That was 52 years ago," Clyburn said.

He said Congress passed more than 400 pieces of legislation in 1965 to deal with the issue of poverty.

"There were all kinds of predictions that it wouldn't last, it would destroy the country. Among those things that wouldn't last and would destroy the country was Head Start. Last time I checked, Head Start is still with us," Clyburn said. "What idiot would say Head Start is not good?"

"If you listen to a certain television stations, the War on Poverty failed. You've been hearing it all year, but the War on Poverty did not fail. Some communities failed to be a part of the effort to make our communities better places. …"

"Government exists for the common good. … Government is not in existence to make a profit. Government is in existence in order to serve the common good of all … in a collective way. We are the government. We make it up, and we should insist that the governmental agencies be effective," Clyburn said.

He said he appreciates the way OCAB Executive Director Calvin Wright, who has served in the position since 1983, runs the agency. He also touted the importance of community involvement.

"We want to have a government that everybody can participate, everybody can be a part of and find common good. You can't find common good with one person making all the decisions, and that's what community action agencies are all about," Clyburn said. "They're about bringing the community into the process."

The theme of the celebration was "Honoring the Past, Embracing the Future."

State Rep. Jerry Govan, whose first job out of college was at OCAB as a business recruiter, and state Sen. John Matthews presented Wright with a resolution in recognition of OCAB's 50 years of service to the community.

Orangeburg County Council Chairman Johnnie Wright and County Councilman Willie B. Owens also presented Wright with a resolution recognizing the agency's service.

In addition, Orangeburg Mayor Michael Butler and City Councilman Bernard Haire presented the executive director with a proclamation designating Aug. 27 as OCAB Day in the city.

Wright recognized his staff and 16-member board, along with former executive directors and board members.

OCAB Board Vice Chairman Aaron Bryan said, "We could not be more proud of such an outstanding organization such as OCAB. OCAB has been and continues to be committed to doing the important work of helping people help themselves in our communities."

Wright presented plaques of appreciation to Clyburn; Vernita Dore, deputy under secretary of USDA Rural Development; and Michelle Cardwell, state director of USDA-Rural Development.

Cardwell said her office has invested nearly $7 billion in the state since 2009 for projects related to housing, schools, libraries and water and sewer projects in the Edisto area. She said the agency is looking to invest $800 million in South Carolina.

Cardwell noted that her agency has had a relationship with OCAB since 1996 and has invested nearly $9 million in new facilities and other amenities, including smart boards for Head Start.

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