Interview with Clifford Austin, October 12, 1989

Partial Transcript: You were teaching school at, at--

Segment Synopsis: Austin talks about his early involvement in the anti-poverty program, mainly in Floyd and Lawrence Counties. He also talks about the philosophical differences that existed within the anti-poverty movement in Floyd County. He mentions that the Community Action Agency was non-confrontational and worked within the system.

Keywords: Anti-poverty movement; Anti-poverty programs; Community Action Programs; Community clubs; Confrontations; Eastern Kentucky Welfare Rights Organization (EKWRO); Employment; Eula Hall; Fall Brooks School; Falls Brook (Ky.); Infrastructure concerns; Local power structures; Mud Creek (Ky.); Philosophy; Tension; Virgil Austin; Working with the system

Subjects: Community action; Economic assistance, Domestic--Appalachian Region; Floyd County (Ky.); Lawrence County (Ky.); Pike County (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: Now at one point there was this doctor named Arnold Schechter.

Segment Synopsis: Austin discusses the controversy surrounding Dr. Arnold Schechter and the healthcare services in Floyd County, Ky.

Keywords: Big Sandy Healthcare; CompCare; Comprehensive healthcare; Eastern Kentucky Welfare Rights Organization (EKWRO); Health clinics

Subjects: Floyd County (Ky.); Prestonsburg (Ky.); Rural health services

Partial Transcript: One of the things that I have to address in this book, is, is how much--is the participation of the poor issue.

Segment Synopsis: Austin talks about his involvement in the community service efforts in Floyd County. He mentions that the idea was to involve locals in the community service efforts.

Keywords: Big Sandy Community Action Agency; Child development centers; Community clubs; Community service; Eastern Kentucky Welfare Rights Organization (EKWRO); Involvement; Mud Creek (Ky.); Northeast Kentucky Rural Community Development Association; Poor people; Representation; Target club meetings

Subjects: Community action; Community development; Floyd County (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: Kind of using EKWRO as a, as a, a foil would they argue that well those are all nice...

Segment Synopsis: Austin talks about the difficulties community action organizations had addressing the causes of poverty. He also talks about the fight over having a preschool program in Pike County, Kentucky.

Keywords: Big Sandy Community Action Agency; Community clubs; Controlling anti-poverty programs; Eastern Kentucky Welfare Rights Organization (EKWRO); Funding issues; Head Start Program; Involvement of poor; Low income programs; Preschool programs

Subjects: Community action; Floyd County (Ky.); Pike County (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: Did you as a community action director, and Harry Eastburn and others, ever...

Segment Synopsis: Austin talks about the criticism community action programs faced because of the involvement of poor people. He also talks about the tension between the Community Action Program and other anti-poverty organizations in the area, mentioning that community action was non-confrontational and other groups were using confrontational politics. He also talks about the preschool program in Floyd County, Ky.

Keywords: Big Sandy Community Action Agency; Community Action Programs; Confrontational politics; Criticisms; Eastern Kentucky Welfare Rights Organization (EKWRO); Head Start Programs; Healthcare services; Involvement of poor people; Mud Creek (Ky.); Poor representatives; Preschool programs; Two-sides; VISTAs; Working within the system

Subjects: Community action; Floyd County (Ky.); Perkins, Carl Dewey, 1912-1984; Pike County (Ky.); Volunteers in Service to America

Partial Transcript: What about the board's relationship, or your relationship, with OEO officials from, um, Washington...

Segment Synopsis: Austin talks about the partnership between the federal government and local groups. He also talks about various people involved in the War on Poverty.

Keywords: Backgrounds; Eula Hall; Gary Austin; Harry Eastburn; Helen Wells; Hershel Frazier; Nick Frazier; OEO; Ollie Arnett; Palmer Frazier; Personalities; Regional OEO offices; Virgil Austin

Subjects: United States. Office of Economic Opportunity.

Partial Transcript: Alright just one, one final question, uh, what would you like to see in this, in this book...

Segment Synopsis: Austin reflects upon the efforts of community action, mentioning that there was a lack of funding throughout the region. He also mentions improvements made in access to clean water. [Interview is concluded]

Keywords: Anti-poverty movement; Concentration on jobs; Improving access to water; Lack of funding; Self-sufficiency

Subjects: Community action; Economic assistance, Domestic--Appalachian Region