Hope, Help & Change

The cost of living in our communities exceeds what many working families can comfortably afford. Paychecks don't always stretch to cover basic needs, so many families are struggling to make ends meet. Even though more people are working and Oregon's minimum wage is among the nation's highest, lower wages are not covering the basic costs of living.

For 45 years, Community Action has been offering hope, help and change for families in transition. Community Action programs promote the birth of health babies, reduce the potential for child abuse and neglect, increase children's chances for success in school, and improve the quality and accessibility of child care. We also offer energy assistance and help to prevent homelessness.

Community Action also works with employers, providing information about programs that can assist low-wage workers. We promote the vision that Washington County residents are strong, resilient and involved in the community, living with dignity and security. Please join us as we keep working to make our communities more secure. We urge you to participate, educate, advocate, and donate to organizations working to make a difference.

Community Action's leadership is essential to community service agencies, churches, businesses, civic groups and local governments in Washington County. We are one of 18 Community Action agencies in Oregon (1,000 nation-wide) started after passage of the U.S. Economic Opportunity Act of 1964.

Our current Annual Report lists Community Action's accomplishments.

Leadership Team

Jerralynn Ness, Executive Director
Lisa A. Brown, Director of Development & Community Relations
Renee Bruce, Director of Family & Community Resources
John Russell, Director of Finance & Administration
Farzana Siddiqui, Director of Child Development

Board of Directors

Chair: Ron Sarazin, Olympic Performance
Vice Chair: Tom Hughes, for Mayor Willey, City of Hillsboro
Treasurer: Scott Gardner, PGE
Secretary: Councilor Cathy Stanton, for Mayor Doyle, City of Beaverton
At-Large: Kevin Aguirre, Oregon Department of Human Services
At-Large: Christy Barker, Community Representative

Lynn Baker, Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center, for Centro Cultural
Councilor Joelle Davis, for Mayor Lou Ogden, City of Tualatin
Mayor Denny Doyle, City of Beaverton
Dana Galaxy, Community Representative
Leda Garside, Salud!
D. Craig Kinnie, retired, Intel Architecture Labs
Chief Ron Louie, for Congressman David Wu
Richard M. Odell, Kaiser Permanente
Mayor Lou Ogden, City of Tualatin
Manuel Pelayo, Head Start Policy Council
Commissioner Dick Schouten, Washington County
Leslea S. Smith, Legal Aid Services of Oregon
Mayor Jerry Willey, City of Hillsboro
Congressman David Wu, U.S. Congress