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487 Lynn Valley Road, S. W. Atlanta, Georgia 30311 November 22, 1968 The Honorable Mayor Ivan Allen City Hall 68 Mitchell Street Atlanta, Georgia 30303 Dear Mayor Allen: We are proud of our Atlanta and the progress it has made under your fine leadership. One dared not dream of this Atlanta a decade ago, but here we stand today poised to move in one of three directions. There are those who would prefer to live in the past, those who feel things should remain as they are - and those who want to forge forward. Atlanta, like the lyrics of the Negr o Spiritual I'll Never Turn Bae~', can not afford to look back. Although we are proud of our progress to date, we are still beset by too many ills and inadequacies to stand still for a brief moment. Under these circumstances, there is but one acceptable route open-and that one is labeled Forward March. Miracles in urban crises seem to have occurred in many urban connnunities like ours by local Urban Coalitions. I've followed their programs for some time and would like to see such an organization functioning here in Atlanta. The National Alliance of Businessmen in its massive attack on hard-core unemployment this past summer, is an e xcellent ex ample of the t ype of returns we could expect from committed concerned businessmen. Unfortunatel y the NAB is limited to job placement for the hard - core unemployed. An Urban Coalition would enable groups of civic and business leaders to operate in the full spectrum of urban problems of education, transport ation ~ housing, race relations, etc. This, to me , could be a most fruitful venture. �I would like to see Atlanta organize an Urban Coalition. this is desirable and/or feasible? With Warmest Regards, .J/~7ft Mrs. Henrietta .. Do you think �