Our first posting of 2011, sadly, is a comment on the passing of Sargent Shriver. President Johnson selected Shriver to head up the Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO). Shriver was much admired by President Johnson for his leadership abilities and installed Shriver as the first Director of OEO on October 11, 1964. As many of you know, this initiative, known as the War on Poverty, was also the beginning of Community Action Agencies.
Shriver was responsible for developing the multi-faceted approach to ending poverty that involved low-income people in various anti-poverty initiatives. This was definitely a new approach and astounded many people in government. Community Action Agencies today still use this approach.
Sargent Shriver was an extraordinary man and we are all truly saddened for his family.
