For Immediate Release

California Community Action Partnership Association (CalCAPA)
Board of Directors
225 30th Street Suite 200
Sacramento, CA 95816
Phone: 916-443-1721
Email: jyang@calcapa.org

Sacramento. CA – November 24, 2020

CalCAPA Board of Directors Welcomes David Knight as the New Executive Director

The CalCAPA Board of Directors is excited to announce the selection of David Knight as Executive Director (ED) beginning December 1, 2020. David comes to CalCAPA with over fifteen years of non-profit management experience, including twelve years in Community Action and Head Start management.

In early October, the Board announced that former Interim ED John Wilson would be stepping down after serving the organization for a second time. After conducting an extensive and thorough national search for the appropriate individual to fill the unique and challenging role, the CalCAPA ED Search Committee was pleased to present David Knight to the Board as their choice.

“The CalCAPA Board of Directors is extremely pleased to select David Knight as our new Executive Director. We are fortunate to have someone of David’s caliber leading CalCAPA and our network. While there are many challenges ahead of us, with David on board we believe we are well positioned to develop successful strategies and strengthen our network.” says Jeremy Tobias, CalCAPA Board President.

David Knight began his service in a Community Action Agency in Pikeville, KY working within the Workforce Investment Act as a business service representative. From there, he cut his teeth on developing and implementing new Community Service Block Grant (CSBG) programs during the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). After that, he became the Executive Director for Pine Bluff Jefferson County EOC, a Community Action and Head Start agency in Arkansas, then serving time as the Community Services Director with the National Association for Community Services Programs (NASCSP) out of Washington, D.C.

Most recently, David has worked as the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Hinds County Human Resource Agency, a public Community Action Agency, located in Jackson, Mississippi. He is a nationally certified Results Oriented Management and Accountability (ROMA) Master Trainer and served as Vice President of the first ROMA Board of Directors. He has provided training and technical assistance to hundreds of Community Action Agencies throughout the United States.

David received his Bachelor of Science in Social Work in August 2004 from the University of Mississippi, and holds a certificate in Public Management and Leadership from the Institute of Government at Jackson State University.

When asked why he wanted to join CalCAPA, David said “You ask around the network and you only hear great things about both California’s size of opportunity and the diversity of services provided by their agencies. I believe there’s a chance for us to really expand on the amazing work of California’s Community Action Agencies and what we’re able to do to make our communities stronger. At the end of the day, that’s what I want to be able to do, ensure our agencies continue to strengthen. I’m really excited about the opportunity to expand not only what we do but to make sure everyone understands how great California and CalCAPA really are and the wonderful things we produce day in and day out.”

In a recent interview with David, he explained that his passion for this work has always been a part of who he is as a person. As a product of Head Start, he prides himself on creating the same opportunities his family was given. “Born to a social worker and raised on the floor of a human services office, I learned quickly that people need support and opportunities to live a happy and healthy life”, continued David. “CalCAPA touches the lives of so many; it embodies the needs set forth by our country more today than ever before. The need for justice, for opportunity and to protect our world’s resources for the many and not just the few. I am honored to lead alongside all of CalCAPA.”

CalCAPA is the state association for California’s Community Action Agencies. Each agency locally administers programs that help reduce poverty, revitalize low-income communities, and empower low-income individuals and families to become fully self-sufficient. Representing over 50 Community Action Agencies throughout the state, CalCAPA is the premier poverty-fighting membership organization in California.