Kentucky Community Action Commemorates War on Poverty with Frankfort Exhibit

50 years ago President Lyndon Johnson declared a "War on Poverty"...

“Unfortunately, many Americans live on the outskirts of hope—some because of their poverty, and some because of their color, and all too many because of both. Our task is to help replace their despair with opportunity. This administration today, here and now, declares unconditional war on poverty in America. I urge this Congress and all Americans to join with me in that effort.”       - President Lyndon B. Johnson, January 8, 1964

Unfortunately, all these battles have not won the war. Efforts continue, however, especially in Kentucky where some regions of the Commonwealth are among the poorest in the nation.

Community Action Kentucky, formed on the date the war was launched, is commemorating the 50th anniversary of the War on Poverty with "one word and one photo for each letter of the alphabet".

They will be displaying an exhibit Thursday (Feb. 20) at the State Capitol in Frankfort. The photos will commemorate the past fifty years' effort and the ongoing challenge. Central Kentucky's branch poster is shown below.

According to Central Kentucky's Community Action's Malcolm Ratchford:

"Of course, you could probably think of much more for each letter, but it was a simple way to emphasize the current need on poverty that we still have."

There are 23 Community Action agencies across the state helping nearly a half million Kentuckians. Ratchford's Central Kentucky branch received the letter "Y" for the exhibit. So, their focus was on youth, and in particular on combating youth violence. The theme for "y" is: "You Can Make A Difference".

According to the Community Action's website, there are still 49.7 million Americans living in poverty.  13.4 million of those are children.  The effects of poverty are enduring.  According to the White House's report, “The War on Poverty 50 Years Later: A Progress Report” released by The Executive Office of the President, about 40 percent of the differences in parents’ income are reflected in children’s income as they become adults.

In 1967, the poverty rate was 25.8%, in 2012 it had dropped to 16%. Still a long way to go.