Community Action for Improvement, Inc. (CAFI) held its annual Board of Trustees meeting on Sept. 5 and elected new officers, according to a press release from CAFI. The Board had the pleasure of electing the first-ever female president of the board, Brandolynn Marenco of Carrollton, Georgia.  

According to the press release, CAFI has been serving the local community for over 50 years. Thousands of families have been assisted with services and financial resources that help stabilize them. The Agency serves seven counties in the west Georgia Region. New President Brandolynn Marenco is employed at the Housing Authority of Carrollton where she works as the Housing Manager.  She has lived in Carrollton since she was a young child and has served the community diligently as a bi-lingual connection to fair housing resources, racial equity programs and public housing supports. She is a graduate of the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Academy, as well as being recognized for academic excellence by the University of West Georgia.  With Brandolynn’s involvement in Carroll County, her tenure on the Board of Trustees has been very beneficial.  She began as a board member in 2017 and continues to diligently serve and represent the Carroll County community.

When asked what she wants to do as the new President, Brandolynn replied “…I have spent my entire career working with and advocating for underserved individuals, youth and families through effective management of programs that meet their basic needs as they work to become self-sufficient. I’m excited to bring this experience to CAFI to build upon the agency’s long history of empowering people in poverty. I also look forward to working with CAFI’s caring and talented staff and the other board members to see how we can expand our services, increase opportunities for growth, and continue to improve the lives of individuals and families in the communities we serve.”

Seated beside the new President will be a new Vice President, Dr. Winston Tripp.  He heads the Sociology Department at the University of West Georgia. He has been nominated for numerous service awards and received the award for Outstanding Faculty.  He is a published author and his research and teaching interests include social movements, community engagement and environmental sociology. CAFI is honored to have Tripp on its board, as he adds to his long list of service to the University and community. 

As Community Action continues to aid and be “advocacy in motion” to low-income families, the press release said the board of trustees will grow. They are working on a new three-year Strategic Plan, will undertake an updated Community Needs Assessment and will continue to monitor the progress and outcomes of our programs, according to the press release.