no_abstract

Our History

Founded in 1965 as one of the initial six New Orleans neighborhood-based project centers supported by Total Community Action, Inc., and incorporated in 1967, CCEOC has operated continuously in the Central City Neighborhood for almost fifty years. Our organization seeks to meet the community’s changing needs by providing programs and services for low-income, disabled, and otherwise disadvantaged individuals and families. The institutional focus of CCEOC is guided by an over-arching mission: to provide wrap-around community services in order to alleviate the social and economic conditions that perpetuate poverty. This means that for our older adults – in addition to specific programs that work to help those experiencing the frailty, isolation and dysfunction commonly experienced by low-income seniors – we will be offering activities and services designed to increase cognitive, physical, and emotional health outcomes in order to improve the ability of these vulnerable citizens to remain active, independent and connected to the community.

CCEOC currently manages several community programs, including a Head Start facility, a commodities distribution program, and one of the few non-profit, community-based senior centers in New Orleans (and the only one in Central City). Over the last year, a change in directorship has resulted in a renewed dedication to actively and creatively finding ways to improve the lives of those we serve. This has led us to seek and establish partnerships with community service providers that allow us to leverage CCEOC’s limited assets while vastly improving the quality and breadth of services we are able to offer the disadvantaged population of Central City. As we continue to reach out to community partners, we look forward to building relationships that bring better health, new experiences, and positive change to the lives of those we serve.

CCEOC is located on Jackson Avenue in the heart of Central City. This neighborhood, north of St. Charles Avenue, contains New Orleans’ census tracts 84, 85, 86, 91, 92, 94, 139, 140 and 143, which correlated to a both a greater instance of independent seniors and a higher instance of poverty than the city as a whole (see charts for these and other demographics below) .

  • 1965

    Founded

    Organized in 1965 as the Central City Neighborhood Center one of six neighborhood centers of Total Community Action, Inc., in response to the federal War on Poverty.
  • 1969

    Incorporated

    Incorporated as Central City Economic Opportunity Corporation in December.
  • 1974
    Initiated Central City Senior Center
  • 1999-2000
    State of Louisiana Childcare provider
  • 2000-Present
    Became Head Start delegate of Total Community Action