For community action to achieve its maximum potential, the entire community must be involved. The entire community is represented on the CAA Board by the three sectors of the tripartite board. Public officials are there because they formally represent both the general public and the local government. Low-income people are there because they know the problems of poverty. The balance of the community are there because the CAA can succeed only through support and partnerships with other service agencies, private employers, churches, law enforcement, unions, etc.

         CAAs were created to eliminate poverty by eliminating root causes of poverty. The Board has been given responsibility to carry out this mission. The Board's greatest single resource is people. This statement is true of the Board's own membership. Each member of the Board has vital talents, experience, contacts and resources to offer.

         Public officials usually bring knowledge about public relations, public opinion, social values and funding. They can serve as ambassadors of good will to the public.  Representatives of the poor are a fundamental source of information on conditions and problems of poverty. Their participation and involvement on the Board, on its committees and at neighborhood levels are critical to CAA efforts.  Also important is their ability to help develop public and institutional under­standing of, and support for, the programs -- and the positive effects those programs can have on the community. Representatives of the private sector often have business or program expertise. They are sources of funds and other resources. Finally, they provide balance to the Board by representing the remainder of the community. In addition, Board members can (and should) enlist the understanding and assistance of their friends and personal contacts to pursue the CAA mission. (From "Toolkit in a Nutshell for Board Members," full text available at http://www.cencomfut.com/Toolkit in a Nutshell.htm)