U.S. Sen. Angus King joined with local community members at Aroostook County Action Program’s Presque Isle Customer Service Center on Thursday, Aug. 15, to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Economic Opportunity Act.
The act was signed on Aug. 20, 1964, by President Lyndon Baines Johnson.
King also discussed the enduring impact of the programs and initiatives it introduced.
Local agency representatives and community members who have benefited from the act’s programs and initiatives were present at the event hosted by ACAP, including Community Action, Head Start, Job Corps, VISTA, Adult Education and Small Business.
The roundtable discussion allowed King to hear firsthand about the programs’ benefits and to ask participants questions. After the discussion, participants recreated an iconic 1964 photo taken in the White House Rose Garden in 1964, when Johnson signed the act.
Senator King sat at a small table, symbolically taking Johnson’s place in the photo, and signed special letters marking the 60th anniversary of the act.
Each participating agency received a letter to display at their respective locations to commemorate the milestone anniversary.
