GREGORY C.
SCOTT
PRESIDENT & CEO
Gregory C. Scott currently serves as President & CEO of Community Action Partnership of Orange County, a leading national network championing the war on poverty, racial and economic equity, strengthening families, youth empowerment and education, and community development.
Mr. Gregory C. Scott, the President and CEO of Community Action Partnership of Orange County (CAP OC), comes to his position in 2018 as a person with lived experience who grew up in poverty, and serves as the organization’s first African American CEO. Despite his struggles and challenges growing up on the margins, he graduated from the acclaimed Eastside High School in Paterson, New Jersey, and went on to earn a Sociology degree from William Patterson University and a Masters degree in community economic development from Southern New Hampshire University.
A passionate visionary and change agent, his inspiration is most affectious, and has led to major recognition, both locally and nationally. Mr. Scott has demonstrated successful experience in both the private and nonprofit sectors, and has extensive experience in brand development, public relations and business development, board development/governance, strategic planning, thought leadership, public policy/advocacy, leadership development and coaching, and organizational development. He leads his teams in producing world-class services to the community and has strong organizational development acumen that produce economical solutions to address challenging social issues affecting disenfranchised communities and their families.
Since 2018, he has served as President & CEO of Community Action Partnership of Orange County, whose mission is to seek to end and prevent poverty by stabilizing, sustaining, and empowering people with the resources they need when they need them. He has also served as the President & CEO of New Directions for Veterans, and the Weingart Center. His experience also includes service as Regional Senior Vice President for Sylvan Learning Systems, and the National Director for YouthBuild USA after he started his career as a substitute teacher, and adult learning instructor.
Mr. Scott has garnered both corporate and individual philanthropic support increasing organizational capacity and revenue, which has led to increased social impact. He is a gifted and sought after speaker on a local and national level and serves on the Board of Directors for the OC Forum, Southern California Counseling Center, Anaheim Workforce Development Board, the Nonprofit Insurance Alliance of California (NIAC), and the marketing committee for the African American Board Leadership Institute.
President’s Corner Blog
THE POWER OF PARTNERSHIPS
Partnerships are the cornerstone of every effort we make to eliminate poverty in Orange County. As our namesake suggests, Community Action Partnership of Orange County (CAP OC) seeks to end and prevent poverty by stabilizing, sustaining, and empowering people by forging strategic partnerships to form a powerful force to improve our community.
As a member of the National Community Action Partnership network, our efforts to work collaboratively are nothing new. What began as an initiative driven by Lyndon B. Johnson’s Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 has resulted in Community Action agencies across the country, working together to end and prevent poverty in their communities…
“We have come a long way in human understanding of the root causes and the pain of poverty and it’s ill effects. We are in a moment when we need a national discourse on the importance of progress towards lowering the poverty rate and closing the income gap especially for our most vulnerable neighbors. Poverty and racial injustice prior to the COVID-19 pandemic had us divided, but as we lean in and forward– both a health crisis and the unfortunate persistence of racial equality, it will take all of us to move the needle on eradicating poverty and ending injustices, whether they be economic or race, that persists in our neighbors living in impoverished conditions. I have dedicated my life to ending social injustices and building economic opportunity for the underserved. Our work at Community Action Partnership shares that commitment.”
The Power of Partnerships
Partnerships are the cornerstone of every effort we make to eliminate poverty in Orange County. As our namesake suggests, Community Action Partnership of Orange County (CAP OC) seeks to end and prevent poverty by stabilizing, sustaining, and empowering people by forging strategic partnerships to form a powerful force to improve our community.
As a member of the National Community Action Partnership network, our efforts to work collaboratively are nothing new. What began as an initiative driven by Lyndon B. Johnson’s Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 has resulted in Community Action agencies across the country, working together to end and prevent poverty in their communities.
However, our efforts to optimize and expand support through partnerships, does not stop there. CAP OC is proud to be a dynamic partner with some of Orange County’s largest networks and coalitions. As we confront a local poverty rate of 10%, one thing is clear: we must work together to support those facing financial insecurity. From hunger and healthcare to education and safety, our county-wide partners work tirelessly to aid in our collective missions. To outline the significant power of partnerships, I’d like to highlight some of our most impactful local collaborations:
The OC Hunger Alliance
The OC Hunger Alliance began in the wake of the COVID 19 Pandemic in 2020 to optimize the emergency food system. As a founding member along with Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County and Abound Food Care, we are proud to work collaboratively with Orange County’s leading organizations working to alleviate food insecurity. Since its inception, the OC Hunger Alliance has utilized cross-county research to facilitate strategic planning, most recently completing “An Analysis of Need in Orange County Report” to better understand the current hunger landscape and introduced a new steering committee to guide the alliance’s efforts moving forward.
CalOptima Health
As a leader in local healthcare and wellbeing, CalOptima Health’s partnership has made a significant impact in both our current programs and our ability to offer new ones through their Community Supports. Now in our second year as a provider, CAP OC offers Housing Transition Navigation, Housing Deposits, and Housing Tenancy and Sustaining programs in addition to Asthma Remediation, Environmental Adaptations, and Enhanced Care Management through their California Advancing and Innovating Medical (CalAIM) Assistance Programs.
In addition to programmatic additions, CalOptima Health’s ongoing partnership provides valuable community connections through community health fairs and outreach events we attend, providing direct services including food and diaper distributions, in turn broadening our reach county-wide.
211 OC/United Way
211 OC/United Way’s partnership provides considerable support throughout the year at our Family Resource Centers (FRC). Thanks to their partnership, CAP OC serves as a free VITA tax support services provider for individuals in need of tax assistance. 211 OC/United Way also offsets the workload at our Family Resource Center, designating a staff member to assist with administrative tasks. This partnership not only brings new resources to the community we serve but provides significant agency support as we work to enhance services at each of our FRC locations.
Our youth services team also works closely with 211 OC/United Way to identify opportunities to support at-risk youth. Currently, our Southwest Community Center offers after school programs to support 211 youth through the City of Santa Ana’s Revive Program. These efforts play a vital role in our mission to empower communities, working together to connect individuals with the tools needed to thrive.
OC Black Solidarity Network
The OC Black Solidarity Network is a coalition of local organizations dedicated to addressing hate against the Black community in Orange County. CAP OC is proud to serve as a leading member, in collaboration with Charitable Ventures and the Orange County Community Foundation among others. Recently established in early 2024, the OC Black Solidarity Network received state funding to foster inclusivity, equity, and the eradication of all forms of hatred within our communities, creating a concentrated effort to education, prevent and address hate in Orange County. As this new partnership continues to take shape, it’s Stop the Hate initiative is a powerful effort, working to enhance the lives and well-being of those experiencing hate in local neighborhoods.
These partnerships represent just a small fraction of the network working with us to eliminate poverty in Orange County. Whether it be a large corporation or local soup kitchen, the impact of collective action is transformative, and we are proud to work with each of our partners to establish a proactive approach to addressing immediate needs and empowering our communities. To learn more and partner with us please visit capoc.org.