Participation of the Poor in the Community Decision-Making Process.

This paper identifies key factors which promote participation of the poor (resident participation) through group action and community decision making processes, programs, and activities; and describes techniques which Community Action Program (CAP) grantees have used successfully to enhance such participation. Kinds of CAP grantee and community activities have included membership in community action agencies (CAAS) and other policy boards and committees, employment in public and private agencies, administration and operation of economic self-help and other programs, and individual exercise of rights and privileges as citizens. Guidelines presented here are based on resident participation in 22 urban and rural CAAs in January 1969, discussions with Office of Economic Opportunity regional personnel, and selected evaluative reports prepared under Federal contracts. Appendix A contains case studies of successful, locally initiated group action. (LY)