The United Planning Organization, the designated community action agency for Washington, D.C., is a private nonprofit human service corporation that, in keeping with its corporate mission, plans, coordinates, and implements human service programs in the Nation's Capital. UPO's rich history began December 10, 1962 when the agency was born via gifts from both Ford and Meyer Foundation grants that were awarded to plan, initiate and support long range programs for the entire Metropolitan Washington, DC area.

UPO holds membership in many organizations geared toward the betterment of living conditions for the entire community. Some of those groups are: National Association of Community Action Agencies (NACAA); District of Columbia Chamber of Commerce; United Way of the National Capital Area; National Community Action Foundation; Washington Council of Agencies; Mid Atlantic Community Action Agency Association; CAP-Law; D.C. Agenda; National Head Start Association; Region III Head Start Association; the Public Access Corporation of DC; Metropolitan Washington Board of Trade; The African American Community Action Leaders; and others.

UPO sponsors many events that have become legendary. Each year it sponsors the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Breakfast that annually draws more than 1000 attendees. Past keynote speakers included Rev. Jesse Jackson, Thomas Todd, Elaine R. Jones and others.

UPO sponsors the UPO/Joseph A. Beavers Scholarship Program that awards scholarships to deserving District of Columbia students. UPO is the only local group that awards scholarships to deserving General Education Development (G.E.D.) recipients as well as to high school graduates.

UPO continues its sponsorship of an annual Run-Walk for Head Start each May, an event begun by the agency in 1995.

Click here to reach a brief UPO staff directory.

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