The Jefferson County Committee for Economic Opportunity (JCCEO) is one of over 1000 Community Action Agencies nationwide, all created by the Economic Opportunity Act (EOA), which Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law on August 20, 1964, to wage a national "War on Poverty." The goal of the act was to encourage communities to organize and use available resources to help improve the conditions in which people live, learn, and work.

On January 21, 1965, the Birmingham Area Committee for Development of Economic Opportunity was incorporated to carry out the activities of a nonprofit organization pursuant to the 1964 EOA. In June 1965, the City of Birmingham and Jefferson County made an agreement to appoint directors to a countywide board of directors for a Community Action Program. On December 5, 1965, the Jefferson County Committee for Economic Opportunity opened its doors to provide a wide range of services to low-income residents of Jefferson County.

For over 40 years JCCEO has provided many important social welfare programs that have changed the face of service delivery in Jefferson County. Segregation had prevented access by African-Americans to vital services, so providing equal access to social services for all people was a major goal for JCCEO. The JCCEO multipurpose Neighborhood Service Centers pioneered the concept of bringing vital services to the neighborhoods of people in need. Through these centers JCCEO also provided a training ground for leadership development, previously unavailable to African-American residents.

The concept of "neighborhood empowerment" was also advanced by JCCEO through its Neighborhood Advisory Councils, which gave representatives of low-income people opportunities to sit on boards and advisory bodies. It was a model for numerous current neighborhood and community organizations to empower citizens.

Current JCCEO programs and services utilize available resources to meet the needs of and assist people and include coordination, referrals, and partnerships with other major service providers in our communities.

"We Deliver More than Promises" continues to be more than a slogan at JCCEO; it is a way of life. JCCEO has served as a channel through which several hundred million dollars have flowed to provide vital services for those with low incomes. It also has provided a significant economic boost to Jefferson County, Alabama. JCCEO is a special place in our community where people find the means to cope with the gaps in their lives and to better themselves in ways that often last a lifetime.

JCCEO Founders
Incorporation Date: January 21, 1965

C. H. Erskine Smith                  
J. Lawrence Arnett
Mamie Pearson Battle             
Orzell Billingsley, Jr.
B. Campbell Blake                   
Donald C. Brabston
Joseph S. Bruno                      
Robert F. Coar
Lawrence P. Compton            
Jerome A. Cooper
J. Mason Davis                       
Edward L. Foster  
Elias Hendricks, Sr.
James M. Jones
Noah M. Pennington
Mrs. Sam Phelps
Sheldon Schaffer
David D. Wendel