Duane Yoder

Duane Yoder served as President of the Garrett County Community Action Committee (GCCAC) and is now retired. He served in that position since 1980. Previously he was employed in similar roles in Southern and Eastern Maryland. His work has primarily focused on strategies that support low-income persons to gain economic security and improve their quality of life. He has served on numerous national and state commissions and boards.

During his tenure as President, Garrett County Community Action has emerged as one of the most successful rural community development corporations in Maryland and as a State leader in implementing innovative early childhood education and family development strategies.

GCCAC worked closely with the Annie E Casey Foundation and the Aspen Institute to implement a whole family approach in Garrett County and was designated along with the Human Resources Commission in Allegany County as one of ten Rural Impact sites in the U.S.to pilot a multi Generation effort.

Duane has spent his adult life working on anti-poverty issues at the local community level.  He received his Bachelor’s degree from Eastern Mennonite University and had done graduate work at the Universities of West Virginia and Maryland.