Community Action Month
Shine the Light Campaign
Shine the Light is NYSCAA’s annual Community Action Month campaign celebrating the people who are at the heart of Community Action. Each May, NYSCAA highlights stories from staff across New York State who are helping people, changing lives, and strengthening communities every day.
Submit Your 2026 Story View 2025 Honorees
About Shine the Light
Shine the Light gives NYSCAA an opportunity to pause and hear directly from the staff doing the work every day in communities across New York State. These stories recognize the dedication, compassion, creativity, and perseverance of Community Action Agency staff at every level.
From direct-service teams to program leaders and behind-the-scenes support staff, Shine the Light helps show what Community Action looks like in practice and why this work matters so deeply.
The campaign reminds us that Community Action is not only about programs and services. It is about people helping people, building relationships, responding to needs, and creating meaningful change for individuals, families, and communities.
Why Shine the Light Matters
Elevating Voices
CAA staff have a platform to tell their own stories in their own words.
Honoring Commitment
The campaign recognizes the dedication and heart it takes to serve communities every day.
Inspiring Others
These stories highlight the many ways Community Action changes lives across New York State.
Building Community
Sharing experiences across agencies strengthens connection, pride, and our shared mission.
Now Accepting Submissions
2026 Shine the Light Campaign
NYSCAA is now accepting submissions for the 2026 Shine the Light Campaign. If you are part of New York’s Community Action network, we encourage you to share your story or recognize a colleague whose work deserves to be celebrated.
We are looking for short stories that reflect the heart of this work, including how you got started, what keeps you going, or a moment that reminds you why Community Action matters.
Submit Your 2026 Story
How It Works
Step 1
Submit a Story
CAA staff are invited to submit a short personal story about their work, journey, or impact.
Step 2
Review and Selection
A review panel selects featured stories to highlight during Community Action Month.
Step 3
Share the Spotlight
Selected stories are shared through NYSCAA’s website, social media, and communications.
2025 Honorees
Congratulations to Our 2025 Shine the Light Campaign Winners
NYSCAA was proud to recognize the following Community Action staff as our 2025 Shine the Light honorees.
Laurel Polttila
Joint Council for Economic Opportunity (JCEO)
A year into leading Weatherization, Laurel discovered that sealing drafts is really about sealing worry. Each insulated attic means a senior can heat their home and a single parent can keep food on the table. Seeing that empowerment ripple across Clinton and Franklin Counties is what fuels her every day.
Bridget Dolbear
Oswego County Opportunities (OCO)
From crisis-line advocate to Fund Development leader, Bridget’s 25-year journey began in a domestic-violence shelter and now ensures OCO programs, meals for seniors, after-school care, and housing stay strong so hope can flourish county-wide.
Bre Jackowski
Oswego County Opportunities (OCO)
After overcoming trauma and addiction, Bre joined OCO as a Direct Support Professional and found purpose helping others. Today, as Community Engagement Manager, she turns lived experience into a bridge of trust for neighbors moving from homelessness to stability.
Theresa Radley
Cortland County Community Action Program (CAPCO)
Theresa left a school secretary desk for CAPCO’s Adult Education classroom, where she has guided 35 adults to diplomas and many more to newfound confidence through academics paired with Community Action’s wrap-around support.
Karima Wines
Mohawk Valley Community Action Agency (MVCAA)
Flexible hours at MVCAA let Karima finish her psychology degree summa cum laude, but the agency’s compassion carried her through pandemic isolation, giving her purpose, family, and a new career devoted to mental-health advocacy.
Thank You to All 2025 Submitters
Thank you to all of the CAA staff who took the time to submit their stories in 2025. Your stories help show the heart, strength, and impact of Community Action across New York State.
Read All 2025 Submissions Submit Your 2026 Story
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Call for Workshop Proposals
2026 NYSCAA Annual Conference
NYSCAA is seeking interactive, practical, and skill-building sessions that offer clear takeaways, useful tools, and strategies attendees can bring back to their agencies.
Location
Niagara Falls, NY
Conference Dates
September 15–18, 2026
Proposal Deadline
Friday, May 1, 2026
Submit a Proposal Sponsor & Exhibitor Packet Ask a Question
Important Dates
Submission Deadline
Friday, May 1, 2026
Notification Date
Friday, June 12, 2026
What We Are Seeking
NYSCAA invites proposals for interactive, skill-building sessions that strengthen knowledge, expertise, and capacity across New York’s Community Action Network.
Preference is given to sessions that include clear learning objectives, practical tools, and strategies participants can realistically bring back to their agencies.
Session Length and Format
Length
Sessions may be 60 or 90 minutes. Flexibility may be available.
Format
Workshop, panel, or interactive presentation.
Best Fit
High engagement, practical takeaways, and tools participants can use.
Priority Topic Areas
Choose one or more topic areas in the submission form.
Human Resources Finance Labor Law Nonprofit Management Head Start / Early Head Start / Early Childhood Artificial Intelligence in Service Delivery Weatherization / Housing Data / ROMA Program Innovation
Before You Start the Form
To make submission quick, prepare the following information before opening the proposal form.
Presenter details: Lead presenter name, organization, email, and phone.
Session overview: Session title and 1–2 paragraph description.
Learning goals: 2–4 learning objectives or goals.
Session logistics: Preferred session format and length.
Optional materials: Handouts or supporting documents.
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NYSCAA Resource
Community Action Plan Templates
In partnership with the New York State Department of State and NYSCAA, a workgroup of Community Action Agency staff developed Community Action Plan Templates for the network to use as a reference when preparing Community Action Plans.
Download the Template
About the Templates
Community Action Plan Templates, also known as workplans or Attachment C, are intended to help agencies organize program information, identify benchmarks, and report outcomes in a clear and consistent way.
These templates are designed as a reference guide for agencies developing Community Action Plans and can support planning, reporting, and internal review processes.
Supporting ROMA-Based Planning
The templates highlight the use of Results Oriented Management and Accountability, commonly known as ROMA, along with related concepts, principles, and best practice approaches for documenting program benchmarks and outcomes.
Planning Support
Helps agencies structure Community Action Plan content in a consistent and practical format.
Benchmarks & Outcomes
Provides a framework for reporting benchmarks, outcomes, and program-level results.
ROMA Alignment
Encourages the use of ROMA concepts and results-oriented practice throughout the planning process.
Download the Community Action Plan Template
Access the template file and use it as a reference when developing or updating Community Action Plans.
Download Template
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