Maui Economic Opportunity Celebrates 50 Years of Service

Staff stand outside the MEO building in Wailuku. Courtesy file photo.

By Maui Now Staff

Maui Economic Opportunity celebrates 50 years of service this month.  The community action agency was established in March of 1965 as one of the first agencies in the nation tasked with fighting poverty.

Since it opened its doors MEO has grown to provide services for early childcare, senior transportation, youth, advocacy, rental assistance, inmate reintegration, business development, micro-loan programs, and services for the Hispanic community.

In celebration of the milestone, MEO will unveil a specially designed banner celebrating five decades of service, and take a commemorative photograph at 9 a.m. on Monday, March 16, at the MEO offices on Mahalani Street.

Everyone is invited to participate in the event.

“We invite everyone to come and be a part of history by taking part in our banner unveiling and photograph,” said Maui Economic Opportunity, Inc. Executive Director Lyn McNeff in an organization press release.

“The face of poverty has changed since 1965. Then it was mostly our kūpuna who lived in poverty. Now, sadly, it is our children. Across America, one out of every five school children lives in poverty.  That is unacceptable and we will continue to work to end that harsh reality,” said McNeff.