The Regional Economic Community Action Program, like many Community Action Agencies, traces its roots to Lyndon Johnson's presidency. When President Johnson took office in 1963, he proclaimed that all Americans could live in prosperity and thought to accomplish this through reform.

In his January 8, 1964 State of the Union Address, Johnson declared an unconditional war on America's poverty and challenged citizens to build a “Great Society”. Organizations and agencies were established and they developed a model, the Community Action Program, that could eradicate poverty from the ground up. This model gave people the power to identify problems affecting their own communities and the resources to bring change.

In 1965, poverty levels reached a national high and effects were felt in Orange County. A panel of local community activists wanting change decided to put Johnson's words into action. They formed the Regional Economic Community Action Program.

Nearly a half century later we're still as dedicated to eradicating poverty as our founders were. With necessity working as the mother of invention, RECAP has grown to include creative programs  in the fields of addiction treatment, job training, energy conservation, nutrition assistance and more.

Our story is continually writing and we encourage you to be a part of it.