The Economic Opportunity Act included the Community Action Program to address poverty through what mechanism?

• A. The Community Action Program
• B. Tax incentives for corporations
• C. International aid efforts
• D. Centralized federal planning

Answer: (C)

The mechanism being tested is how programs combat poverty by putting local people in charge of the solutions. The Community Action Program was designed to bring together the poor, community organizations, government agencies, and service providers at the neighborhood level to assess needs, plan responses, and oversee how those programs are carried out. This creates a locally driven, coordinated approach that tailors efforts to what each community actually requires across education, job training, health, housing, and other support. The idea is that those living with poverty help shape and run the initiatives, ensuring programs address real conditions rather than being imposed from the top down.

That’s why this approach isn’t about tax incentives for corporations, international aid, or centralized federal planning. It centers on empowering communities to take action themselves.