WCAC celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the Head Start Program by President Lyndon B. Johnson on May 18, 1965 with a special rose ceremony for its teachers and staff, commemorating the launch of the program from the White House Rose Garden. Pictured here (L-R), WCAC Executive Director Jill Dagilis, Head Start C0-Director Kathleen Dow, WCAC Director of Human Resources & Operations Kerry Brennan, and Head Start Co-Director Evelyn Velez.
WCAC launched a new electronic newsletter to educate the community about the many programs the agency manages, to encourage public advocacy for the issues which impact limited-income individuals and families, and to motivate the support of our neighbors. Features in the inaugural edition include Head Start Works, LIHEAP records set, A Push for Priorities, and a preview of the Summer YouthWorks program. View the Enewsletter here.
Worcester Community Action Council, Inc. held a celebration April 13th at St. Joseph’s Parish Center in Auburn, to acknowledge and thank several key individuals and organizations who assisted the agency with relocating 81 children from a Head Start site in Oxford following an emergency evacuation and subsequent closure due to a severely leaking roof in February. Dubbed Head Start Heroes, WCAC presented certificates of appreciation and potted plants – featuring handprints of Head Start students – to individuals who played a critical role in the eventual relocation of the displaced students to three alternative sites – the Guild of St. Agnes Daycare in Webster, St. Joseph’s Parish Center in Auburn, and expanded classrooms at WCAC’s existing site at Cole Avenue in Southbridge. Read More
Worcester Community Action Council hosted its annual Legislative Breakfast and was pleased to have the strong support of so many of our colleagues in the Massachusetts State Senate and House of Representatives.
Deputy Director Priscilla Holmes received self-sufficiency employee excellence and achievement award for 23 years of service” (L to R: WCAC Executive Director Jill C. Dagilis, WCAC Deputy Director Priscilla Holmes, and MASSCAP Executive Director Joe Diamond.
Executive Director Jill C. Dagilis presents Congressman James P. McGovern with the MASSCAP Self-Sufficiency Public Service Award at the State House via Skype on March 27, 2013.
Healthy Families of Southern Worcester County staff & participants meet with Senator Moore at the state house on Teen Parent Lobby Day, March 28, 2013.
Bob Jennings, and Noreen Johnson Smith, Senator Michael O. Moore, Board Member Gladys Rodriguez Parker on behalf of Congressman James P. McGovern, Representative John Mahoney, Board Member Joanne Gravell, District Attorney Joseph Early, Jr., and Board Member Steve Letendre.
WCAC Executive Director with new board members (L to ): Howard Letendre, Ryan Marshall, Steven Desmarais, and Robert Jennings.
(L to R): Tim Garvin, United Way of Central MA; Worcester City Councilor Kathleen Toomey; Mark Bilotta, Colleges of Worcester Consortium; Lt. Governor Timothy P. Murray; Jill C. Dagilis, WCAC Executive Director; Debbie Guiney, AllCom Credit Union; William Van Dam, Northeast Utilities/WCAC Board Chairman; Michelle Ramirez, tax filer; Steven Joseph, Unum/WCAC Board Vice Chairman; Crystal Kelsaw, tax filer; and Joe Diamond, MASSCAP.
(L to R): Elvis Lopes, The Community Builders at Plumley Village; Rita Crimmin, United Way of Central MA; Michael Desimone, IRS; Anne Vinick, The Community Builders at Plumley Village; Carol Esparza, AllCom Credit Union; Shereen Fahey, Commerce Bank; Mauro DePasquale, WCCA TV 13; Steven Hill, City of Worcester’s Office of Economic Development; Tim Garvin, United Way of Central MA; Priscilla Holmes, WCAC Deputy Director; and Debbie Guiney, AllCom Credit Union.
On November 30, 2012, WCAC Job Developer Bob Morrison received the YouthNet Administration Award from Director Bonnie Pulver in recognition of his time, energy, and support to the community-wide YouthWorks summer jobs program. YouthNet is a program of YOU, Inc. and the Hope Coalition.
WCAC is experiencing a significant impact to staffing capacity due to federal budget implications. However, demand for our services is growing.
As a result, we are strongly encouraging households that are either first-time applicants or returning clients to apply online using the online portal that opened on October 1st, 2025. https://www.toapply.org/WCAC. Returning applicants will need their account number and PIN to submit through the online portal. The 2025 PIN is located on the top of the green paper application that was mailed to you or by calling our customer service department at 508-796-2423.
