In January 1964, during his first State of the Union address, President Lyndon B. Johnson declared a “War on Poverty.” He described the widespread poverty in the United States—nearly 20 percent of Americans were poor at the time—as a national disgrace requiring a national response. He also argued that poverty stemmed not from personal failings, but from broader social conditions (War on Poverty, 2023). The War on Poverty led to the creation of several new federal programs and agencies....

Around 800,000 people across the state dialed Ohio’s non-emergency hotline 211 last year, according to data collected by nonprofit United Way. Now, even more people will soon have access to the hotline’s resources. Rodney Reasonover is the CEO of the Stark County Community Action Agency. The nonprofit was founded in 1981 and now forms part of around 100 community action agencies nationwide. He said, the agency offers several services, including its Head Start program, Home Weatherization...

I recently attended this year’s National Community Reinvestment Coalition #JustEconomy conference in Washington, D.C., the national event for community, policy, government, and business leaders who work for fairness in lending, housing, business, education, healthcare, media, tech, and everyday life. With a wide range of sessions on community organizing and advocacy, fair housing, fair lending, access to capital and credit, workforce and community development, business, education, climate...