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t. L - / (Georgia) OFFICE OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY Southeast Regional Office 730 Peachtree Street, N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30308 Phone: 526-3194 NEWS for immediate release OEO ANNOUNCES URBAN SER.VICE AWARDS Twelve community leaders,four newspapers, a television station and the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce were among the first to receive the recently established Urban Service Award of the Office of Economic Opportunity, Sargent Shriver, Director of OEO, has announced. This honor is for those i ndividuals and organizations "whose dedicated efforts to alleviate the problems of the poor in America's cities have helped create a better life for our citizens," according to the award. The individuals included: in Atlanta, Mayor Ivan Allen, Jr., Boisfeuillet Jones, Dr. Vivian Henderson, William W. Allison, Dr. William Holmes Borde Dan Sweat, Mrs Earl Metzger, Jr., Mrs Mattie Ansley and the late Charles O. Emmerich; in Athens, Judge James Barrow; in Augusta, the Reverend E. O. Waldron; and in Columbus, Virginia Barfield. In addition to the above i ndividuals, citations also were made to the Atlanta Constitution, the Atlanta Journal, television station WSB and the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce; and the Athens Banner- Herald and Daily News i n Athens • . Mayor Allen was cited for his dynamic leadership of a progressive city during trying times, while Bill Allison and Dan Sweat were both cited for their service to Economic Opportunity Atlanta and to the city government and the citizens of the Atlanta area. Mr. Jones , who has served as Chairman of the Board of Economic Opportunity Atl anta, Inc., was cited for his numerous civic contributions and for his particular support of the War on Poverty. Mrs. Metzger was named for her service with the special task force assisting EOA in its programs around Atlanta, particularly in the Head Start Programs. Dr. Henderson was cited for his service to the community at large and the involvement of Clark College in poverty programs. (MORE) �I Page 2 (Ga.) Dr. Borders was named for his long leadership in Atlanta and especially for the self-help projects which he has headed in poverty communities. . Mrs . Ansley has worked diligently in creating interest in resident participation since the beginning of the War on Poverty in her neighborhood; her most recent activity has been to spearhead the target area elections for low income are a representation to the Neighborhood Advisory Committee. Mr. Emmerich launched, was the first Director of Economic Opportunity Atlanta. He -worked tirelessly from the time OED programs were first started in Atlanta until his ur:itimely death; in a very r eal sense, he gave his life in the War on Poverty. Judge Barrow has been active in the operation of the Athens Community High School and adult education program financed through grants made from OED. Reverend Waldron has been extremely active in the development of t he Community Action Agency in Augusta , Georgia. He worked diligently i n uniting the community, as well as interpreting the concept of Community Action to the point that the total community became concerned over the need to activate a program for the impoverished of Richmond County and Augusta , Georgia . Mrs. Barfield should be commended for her outstanding work in accomplishing the coordination of local resources in the establishment of the MIND Center at • a , which is an adult educat ion vehicle designed to take low-income Columbus, Ge or gi persons with less than an eighth·grade education and upgrade them educationally two to four grade levels in eight to ten weeks. In pre s enting these Urban Service Awards, Sargent Shriver said, "Arnerica 1 s most di ffi cul t challenge is i n the city, and you met it by working in the city to help i mprove the quality of urban life. Awards can never repay you for this unselfish dedication t o the welfare of your fellow man , but they do affirm our deep appreci ation f or your wor k i n behal f of t he poor." Dr. Ralph A. Phelps, Jr., Southeast Regional Director of OEO in Atlanta, said that all of the honor ees were nomi nat ed by OE0 1 s Regional Office on the basi s of their efforts to help t he poor in their own communities . Awards went t o War on Poverty Agencie s , wor kers, volunt eer s and suppor t ers i n over JOO Americ an citie s. �