Allan Jennings, longtime executive director of the Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley (CACLV), announced his planned retirement at CACLV’s annual meeting Oct. 14.

Jennings, who has been afflicted with Parkinson’s Disease for 15 years, said he wants to retire in May 2021 after he turns 63 and is eligible for his Social Security benefits.

“I can’t sprint through the marathon anymore,” said Jennings in his remote meeting via Zoom.

Jennings has led CACLV to a nonprofit worth about $30 million. Under his leadership, almost every aspect of life for Lehigh Valley’s under- privileged, under-valued population has been affected.

From a massive food bank operation to homeless shelters to a bank catering to micro loans for entrepreneurs and more, Jennings has been doing the work that the capitalist market-driven economy does not do.

While Jennings has ruffled a few powerful politicians over the years (recently he called a sitting district attorney a “thug” and last year called on a judge to resign), he has many who admire what he has done.

City of Bethlehem Councilman William J. Reynolds summed it up well when addressing Jennings during the Zoom meeting.

“Thank you for your service. You’ve been talking for years and years about systemic problems in our society, systemic issues that have been blown wide open.

“They were issues you were talking about 10, 20, 30 years ago. You were one of the first people to ever talk about these issues.

“You once said to me, ‘Willy, its not about the people who look like you and me. It’s not about the people that live in our neighborhood. It’s about people who are never going to walk into a city council meeting or email you.’

“You aren’t afraid to tell rich people the truth,” said Reynolds. “You’re not afraid to say, ‘We need more from you.’”