About UsImproving people's lives

Action Inc. is your community connection

For more than 50 years, Action Inc. has been a champion for the people and communities of Cape Ann—a coastal region of northeastern Massachusetts. The mission of Action Inc. is to build an equitable and resilient community by creating opportunities for all on Cape Ann.

The communities we serve

We serve the residents of Gloucester, Essex, Ipswich, Manchester-by-the-Sea, and Rockport, Massachusetts.

The communities Action Inc. serves

Action Inc. is a non-profit organization and Community Action Agency (CAA) that was founded in 1965 as part of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty. CAAs were created, alongside the passage of the Civil Rights and Voting Rights legislation, to address all forms of inequality and to work towards eliminating poverty in the United States. We belong to a nationwide network of more than 1,000 similar agencies that are dedicated to helping people in need and improving our communities. We work with our partners at local, state, and national levels to provide quality services that change lives and help people move up the ladder of economic opportunity.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging (DEIB)

We believe that all people should be treated with dignity and respect and recognize that structural race, gender, and other inequities remain barriers that must be addressed. We are committed to promoting and defending diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in all aspects of our work. As members of the Massachusetts Community Action Partnership, we join them in their pledge to face racial bigotry, white supremacy, religious hatred, attacks on the LGBTQ+ community, and other forms of hate, in a direct and active manner.

Read the MASSCAP Member DEIB Statement & Commitments.

Action Inc. is a safety net for our community. We offer a broad range of supportive services, including: fuel assistance and energy efficiency programs, case management, housing assistance and homelessness prevention, job training and education, and affordable housing. We are responsive to our community’s needs, developing new programs and services when new needs arise. We advocate locally and nationally for policies that will advance and strengthen our community. We are dedicated to providing pathways to opportunity. We believe that all people–regardless of their income, race, gender, sexuality, or religion–should have equal opportunities for stability, safety, and success in life.

Action Inc. is a welcoming place. We’re here to provide support when you need it most.

How can we help you?


Meet the people of Action Inc.

Our compassionate staff is dedicated to providing opportunities for individuals and families in our community. At Action Inc., we believe in people and in a better future for all. Meet our amazing team.

meet our people