May is Community Action month and the sixty-one-year story of Central Nebraska Community Action Partnership (CNCAP) is both uplifting and nostalgic. In September 1965, through the vision and ingenuity of the founders and initial Board Members consisting of Norman Stephens, Harry Knecht, John Smedra, Marvin Sather, Henry Bourland, and Ralph Badura, all of Sherman County; Central Nebraska Community Action Program (CNCAP) was established as the regional economic opportunity organization. The group knew that although it would take time to organize, the economic impact to the community would be a benefit that would last long term. So, the concept was formed in Sherman County and once CNCAP was incorporated, the group reached out to other counties for their interest in participating in the formation of the company. The coverage area of the organization continued to expand from Sherman into Valley, Greeley, Howard, Custer and Merrick counties, eventually growing to serve twenty-one counties. However, although the representation of the Board of Directors currently represents twenty-one counties, the original six counties are still referenced as the “core counties” today. As the organization grew, the board membership encompassed members from the above- mentioned counties, with continued expansion to other community members that were involved in the development and expanding representation from the original five members to the current twenty- seven- member board.
The twenty-seven-member board represents a tripartite membership that consists of the public sector (county or city government), private sector (community) and low-income sector representation. CNCAP is also part of a larger network of 1000 Community Action Agencies across the nation.
Within the first two years of operation, CNCAP was able to establish programs that provided transportation to the elderly and job development for neighborhood youth. In 1967, the Head Start program was started as a summer-only program, and CNCAP joined other community partners to raise money to build a nursing home.
