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DISCUSSION PAPER . Chicago Conference Mobilizing Urban Coalitions Chicago Circle Center, University of Illinois October 17th, 1967 Introduction With any new national effort such as that being undertaken ~y The Urban Coalition, it may be expected that organizational structure methods will continue ~o undergo change. For this reason The Urban Coalit ion is under- standably :following a flexibl e course of action. The ideas set forth in this discussion paper may be expected to undergo fur t her change a s they are subject to continuing review by both national and local leadership . The views of those interested in The Urban Coalition are invite d and we lcome . Goals Base d upon the Statement of Principles , Goals and Commitments adopted at t h e August Emergency Convocation, The Urban Coalition's program may be restated as follows: 1. To encourage the Congre ss to respond affirmatively to the n eeds of the cities . 2. To encourage public concern with the needs of the c it ie s o 3. To stimulate gr eat e r private initiative a nd effort in dealing with the problems of the cities, including both investme n t and technical assi s t a nce. 4. To stimulate gr e ater support' for and interes t meet such needs as: in ongoing efforts to --job d e v elopment and manpower training programs --open housing efforts --urban renewal and reconstruction �Page ·Two ) --anti-poverty programs --programs to overcome educational dispariti e s . Methods Among the methods tha t may b e followed by The Urban Coalition are the following: 1. Be supportive, not op er ational. It is e x pected that Th e Urban Coalition will suppor t o ngoi ng e fforts at both the loc a l an d n a tional lev els. rt may stimulate new under takings. It will coopeiate with s uch majo~ n ew efforts as th e $1 billion inv e stme nt allocation of the insur anc e industry for center city development. 2. It will give support to loc a l u rba n coalitions. Stimulat e inte res t in successful e x amp l e s of actio n . Thr ough it s Task For c es The Urban Co a lition will identify, work with , and public iz e successful effort s to e xpand employment, e x tend lower i n c ome hou s ing a n d equa l housing opport unitie s , new educational pro g r a ms a nd th e like . Task Forces hope t o s e rve as c a t a l y st s and conv enors . The They wi l l serve a s c l e aringhouses o f l oc al a c t ion. 3. Work with the mass media . Thr o ugh its Ta sk F orce on Communicati on s and Public Suppor t and thr ough co un te rp a rt comm i ttees at t h e loc al lev el , it is h oped that the mass media can te encouraged to fo cu s gr e at er a t te ntion on the n eeds of c ities . Br oad public understandin g of the n eed for greater re s ource s , of the c omplexit i e s of the p r obl e ms invo l ved and the need for urgent action are es s ential if the g oal s of The Urban Coalition are to be achieved. �P~ge·Three 4. To coordinate a national legislative campaign. The Urban Coalition has called upon Congress for action across a broad front to meet the urban crisis. Interpreting and emphasizing the need for national action is as ~uch a local obligation as it is a commitment of the National Steer ing Committee. Discussions with members of Congress is as much a hometown affair as are appearances before Congressional comm ittees. Structures The National Steering Committee at the present time consists of thir ty-six members. They are broadl y representat i ve of business, labor , local govern- me nt , religion, civil rights and education. It is expected that two addit- ional member s of the Steering Committee will be sele cted by the Council of Urban Coalitions. As loc a l coalitions are formed they wi ll b e invited to designate two r e pre s e ntatives to serve on the Coun~il a nd thro ugh this Council provide the National Steer ing Committee with advice and guidance on matters of national concern . The National Ste ering Committee has establishe d seven Task Forces a nd it i s e x p e cte d th a t c ounterpart units. guide line s. local coa lition s will d e v e lop These are ide ntif i ed and discussed in the attache d Under con s i der a tion for futur e d e v e lopme nt is the establi s hme n t o f a Council o f Urban Ec o nomic Advi s o rs to assist the Coa lition in a n a l yzi ng the ~mp act of Federa l economic, fisc~l, tax , and budget a ry p o licies of cit i es. A secon d Counc il o f Un i v ersi t y Urba n Studies Cent ers i s b eing contempl ated as a mea n s o f channe ling the b est r esearch i deas con cerning urban deve l opment into the discu s s ions and p l ans of b oth t he National Steering Committee and �Page Four ) and local coalitions. Further additions and modifications ~n the organization and structure of The Urban Coalition may be expected as experience is gained.

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