Advocacy

AEOA delivers self-sufficiency services, providing opportunities for those with limited resources so they could meet their basic needs, resolve problems, and improve their lives. For over 50 years, AEOA has listened to the people it serves and amplified their voices to advocate for policy solutions, programs, and resources that will help low-income, homeless and disadvantaged persons throughout Northeastern Minnesota move out of poverty and become economically self-sufficient.

Over the years, our work has built community – sometimes one person at a time; sometimes through social policy advocacy and sometimes through community partnerships. Building community is about belonging. It is about being a part of the discussion and invested in the solution. The voices of our consumers are heard through their representation on the Agency’s Board of Directors and Head Start Policy Council, as well as through various advisory boards and our Community Needs Assessment.

• One-third of the AEOA’s Board of Directors is comprised of consumers of its programs. This ensures that diverse viewpoints of those receiving services can be captured in program planning, implementation, and evaluation.
• AEOA participates in various networks, collaborations, and advisory boards that address the issues of the homeless population, households in a crisis, coordination of senior services and the needs of persons transitioning from welfare to work.
• As a Community Action Agency, AEOA completes a Community Needs Assessment once every three years to best determine the specific needs of people in poverty.