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REPORT OF THE LOCAL COAL ITION DIVISION TO THE EXE CUTIVE COM.MI TTEE December 16, 1968 I. Accomplishments of Coalitions The "older gene ration" of coalitions , with increas ing frequency, is showing tangible and substantial re s ults; the younger coalitions are, in many insta nces , cons ume d by o rganizationa l problems . Some illustrative accomplishme nts are listed: The Miami Coalition, in collaboration with the United Black Federa tion, a bl a ck organization formed with the encourage ment and cooperation of members of the coa l ition, h a s taken significant steps to ease police- community relations. It is currently f o rmulating programs in o ther fields identified as key to Mi a mi's needs. Ten (or more ) coalitions are aggressively c reating entrepreneurship o pportuni ties f o r minorities. The New York Coa lition's Venture Capital Corporation has just made its f i rs t loan, in cooperation with the Harlem Commonwea lth Council. The comp l ementary Coaliti on Development Corporation h as begun with a case load o f 203 entrepreneurs s eeking t echnica l as sistance . Plainfi e ld and Racine h a ve h e l ped establis h sma ll companies . REC Industries , a small manufacturing company estab li shed by the Ra ci ne Environment Committee now employs and is training 35 "hard core " youths. Both the Philade l phia and New York coaliti ons h ave active programs designe d t o enhance the capabilities and opportun iti es o f mino r ity con tractors. Most coalitions are striving to re lieve unemployment, consist ently i n collaboration with the loca l NAB effo rts. The New Detroit Committee has found 50,000 j obs; Minneapo lis ha s promote d coordination o f NAB efforts with other o rgani zations; Fresno h as estab l ished a Manageme nt Council f or Mer it Employmen t; Riverside h as formed a Job Opportunities Counci l ; and Tacoma has establ ished a ghetto area employment o ffice which has plaqed 300 h ard-core une mp loye d. The Winston- Sa l e m Coalition h as estab li s h e d a Housing Foundation {with a million d ol l ar budget ), and h as h e lped finance a hous ing proj ect f or the elderly. Other coalitions with strong hous ing activities include Detroit, Fre sno, Lima, Minneapolis, New York, Philade lphi a , and Tacoma. The New Detroit Committee i s pressi n g l egal action t o get more adequate reso u rces for core-city sch oo l s. Bridgeport, Minneapo li s, and Racine are conce ntrating on scholarships for des e rving minority college s tudents. Detroit a l so h as stimulated the formation of partnerships between schools and major companies, �Page Two L. C. Div. Report and Newark has proposed private sector construction and operation of schools. New York has helped find sponsors for 15 Street Academies, whos e contributions will amount to $600,000 annually. New York also has a ttempted to come to g~ips with the city's decentralization crisis through public education and offers of mediation. The Philadelphia Coalition is launching an employment training program by establishing "academies" in high schools which are sponsored and operated by major compan ies. Three academies are being o rgan i zed in Of fice Management, Banking and Finance, Aviation and Aerospace, and in Electronics. Coalitions in Detroit, Newark, New York, Baltimore, New Orleans, Philadelphi a , Plainfield, Racine, and Saginaw are promoting legislative activity either at the local, state or Federal level. II. Established Coalitions New Bedford, Massachusetts established a coalition in late November; this brings the total of established coalitions to 40. III. Hou.sing Con fere nce for Coalitions During 1969 the Urban Coalition, with the help of the National Institute of Public Affa irs, will provide a s e ries of conferences to help coalitions develop effective strategies in particul ar substantive areas. The first of the s eries , To Impr ove a City ' s Housing , will be held on Feb r u ary 6 and 7 in Washington. This conference i s specifica lly d es igne d to h e lp the staf f and hous ing ta s k forc e me mbers o f coa litions to ident ify the i r rol e and strategies in improving the loca l hous ing situ at ion. IV. Organizing Efforts Efforts are currently underway to establish coa litions in 33 cities. Thi s tota l includes Chic ago , Illinoi s and Durh am , North Caro lina. Coa li tions are e x p e cted to be a nnounc e d soon in San Francisco, Kansas City and Dayton. ·Mr. Walter Re uther h as scheduled a luncheon on January 9 to advance organi zing efforts in Michigan cities . . At the Novembe r mee ting , the Steeri ng Committee resolved to aid. in the formati on of loca l coa litions . All 38 members were contacted by letter as a cons equence , r equ es ting assistance in relation to spe ci f ic cities. Te n members h a v e responded to this r equ es t; s even me mbers h a v e p r ovide d the n ame s of individu a l s who can assist in a total o f t we lve of the target cities: Since the last meeting on Nove mber 1 3, the following Steering Committee members h ave made or wil l make speech e s: Mayor Nafta lin Cl e v e l and , November 21 Mr. Close Corpus Christi, January 28. ., �