history
When President Lyndon Johnson declared
"unconditional war on poverty" twenty-eight years ago, his goal was
to provide the opportunity for every American to enjoy the benefits
of the nation's new theme: "The Great Society." The
Economic Opportunity Act, signed into law by Johnson on August 20,
1964, established a network of local organizations that have been
working to fulfill that dream in nearly every community in the
nation.
Pittsylvania County was not be left out....
primarily because of a handful of "community action pioneers" who
rode the back of that national campaign to ensure that this county
was included.
Mr. Irvin Burton was one of the community
leaders who spearheaded the creation of a community action agency in
Pittsylvania County. The initial idea was sparked when Mr.
Burton noticed an article entitled, "The War on Poverty" in a West
Virginia newspaper. The article described an organization that
was building a walk bridge in a rural community. Not only was
this community improvement, but it was providing jobs for the
unemployed in the community.
Burton said he read the article with "great
interest” and due to tremendous insight on his part, he recognized
how this new type of organization, called a community action agency,
could benefit Pittsylvania County.
Mr. Burton went to see Mr. Frank Walton, the
supervisor for the Dan River District at that time. Mr. Walton
expressed interest in the idea and made a few contacts of his own.
Mr. James Combs, Superintendent of Pittsylvania County Schools, was
one of those contacts. Realizing it would be of great
advantage to the school system if the area could benefit from the
different federal programs which were available, Mr. Combs pledged
his support.
Support grew within the community and a meeting
was held to initiate plans to organize a community action agency in
Pittsylvania County. Attending the meeting were the members of
the Board of Supervisors, School Superintendent Combs, Assistant
School Superintendent Charles Hagberg, and many community
representatives, including Mr. Burton, Mr. Clyde Banks
(President of the NAACP), Reverend Frank Greene, Mr. Jesse Clark,
members of the NAACP, Mr. Albert Tippet (Principal of Northside High
School), and Mr. William Turner (Principal of Southside High
School).
Following these meetings, Mr. Clyde Banks was
elected to be the first president of the Board of Directors, and Mr.
Burton, who were members of the Personnel Committee, hired Mr.
Robert Dirk as the first Executive Director of PCCA.
Since that time, there have been three
Executive Directors, including Mr. Kenneth Thorson, Rev. Charles
Miller, and Mr. Sherman Saunders, present Director.
Over the past thirty eight years, PCCA staff
rolls have increased to over 100 employees. Most agency
components have doubled in size and/or operations.
PCCA has become a multi-jurisdiction agency.
This agency is the designated Community Action for Pittsylvania
County, the City of Danville, the City of Martinsville, and Henry
County.
PCCA's success as a human service provider is
evidenced by its continuing growth, the acceptance and respect it
receives from the communities it serves and its ability to move
forward undaunted by adversities.