Vel Phillips Papers (Radio scripts, Box 2)

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THEY SHOULD PRESENT SUCH FACTORS AS OVER-CROWDING, POVERTY, UNEMPLOYMENT, HIGH WELFARE LOADS, POOR HEALTH, CRIME, AND LOW EDUCATIONAL OR SKILL LEVELS. MOST COMMUNITIES WILL BE ABLE TO ADAPT THEIR COMMUNITY RENEWAL PROGRAM TO MODEL CITIES PLANNING. BOTH ARE DESIGNED TO IMPROVE THE LIVING ENVIRONMENT OF PEOPLE TRAPPED IN SLUM OR BLIGHTED NEIGHBORHOODS.

MILWAUKEE'S C.R.P. IS ONE OF THE PIONEER PROJECTS IN AMERICA AND SHOULD BE ADAPTABLE TO MODEL CITIES CONCEPTS ONCE THE ADMINSTRATIVE MACHINERY IS DEVELOPED TO PULL TOGETHER THE PHYSICAL PLANNING WITH THE NECESSARY SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC EFFORTS.

WHILE RENEWAL AND CODE ENFORCEMENT ARE MAJOR ASPECTS OF THIS PROGRAM, ITS REAL THRUST IS IN THE AREA OF SAVING HUMAN RESOURCES. THE PROGRAM WILL TRY TO PINPOINT PROBLEMS, DETERMINE THE NEEDS AND DESIRES OF THE PEOPLE, AND DEVELOP PROJECTS AND THE MACHINERY TO CARRY THEM OUT.

JOB OPPORTUNITIES OFFER ONE VAST AREA OF NEED. PLACEMENT, EMPLOYER SURVEYS, AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING TO DEVELOP THE NEEDED SKILLS CAN ALL BE ACCOMMODATED BY THIS PROGRAM.

ATTEMPTS SHOULD ALSO BE MADE TO REDUCE DEPENDENCE ON WELFARE, COMBAT DISEASE AND ILL HEALTH, REDUCE DELINQUENCY, ENHANCE RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, AND EVEN TO IMPROVE THE LOCAL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.

SOME AREAS PROPOSE TO CONCENTRATE ON HOME OWNERSHIP AND ENCOURAGING PRIVATE ENTERPRISE IN THE SLUM AREAS. PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN, COUNSELING AND REMEDIAL SERVICES, ENRICHING ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SYSTEMS, AND ADULT EDUCATION ARE THE AIMS OF OTHER COMMUNITIES.

List OTHER SUGGESTED SERVICES INCLUDE CONCENTRATED CRIME AND DELINQUENCY DRIVES, FEATURING REHABILITATION PROJECTS, ALCOHOLIC AND DRUG PROGRAMS, AND RECREATIONAL AND EMPLOYMENT SERVICES.

MODEL CITIES PROGRAMS SHOULD BE DESIGNED TO SHOW POSITIVE RESULTS WITHIN 5 YEARS. THIS MEANS UPGRADING AN AREA, AND REVERSING THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC TRENDS WHICH DRAG PEOPLE DOWN INTO SLUM LIFE.

MILWAUKEE IN THE PAST HAS BEEN ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN URBAN RENEWAL. THIS PLAN WILL AFFORD US THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THE ONE BIG STEP BEYOND MERE PHYSICAL RENEWAL AND INTO THE REALM OF HUMAN RENEWAL.

I think that we WE SHOULD BE EAGER TO TAKE THIS STEP AND ARREST THE SOCIAL DECAY WHICH ACCOMPANIES THE SPREAD OF BLIGHT.

That's it for today GoodBye For Now And Thank you for Listening

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THANK YOU AND HELLO AGAIN.

FOR SEVERAL WEEKS NOW, I HAVE BEEN TALKING RATHER GENERALLY ABOUT O.I.C., MILITANT SELF-HELP THROUGH COMMUNITY COOPERATION AND SELFMOTIVATION. YOU WILL RECALL THAT WE HAVE DISCUSSED THE HISTORY OF THE OPPORTUNITIES INDUSTRIALIZATION CENTERS, INC., BOTH IN PHILADELPHIA, WHERE THE PROJECT WAS ORIGINATED, AND HERE IN MILWAUKEE, WHERE IT IS JUST GETTING OFF THE GROUND. TODAY, I WOULD LIKE TO BE SOMEWHAT MORE SPECIFIC; ALTHOUGH MILWAUKEE'S O.I.C. PROGRAM HAS BEEN IN ACTUAL OPERATION FOR a little over 4 wks [THREE WEEKS], IT HAS ALREADY BEGUN TO MEET WITH THE KIND OF SUCCESS THAT THE STAFF CALLS "ALMOST MIRACULOUS." THIS, THEN, WILL BE IN THE NATURE OF A PROGRESS REPORT.

O.I.C. IS CURRENTLY WORKING AN ENROLLMENT OF 32 STUDENTS, AND A WAITING LIST THAT IS GROWING LARGER EVERYDAY. THESE 32 PEOPLE, RANGING IN AGE FROM 18 TO 56, ARE BEING MOTIVATED AND PREPARED TO EFFECTIVELY UTILIZE EXISTING VOCATIONAL TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND COOPERATING LOCAL INDUSTRY. AT THIS TIME, AFTER ONLY THREE WEEKS OF CLASSES, SOME OF THE O.I.C. TRAINEES HAVE ALREADY BEEN PLACED IN ON-THE-JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS, AND SIX OF THE CURRENT STUDENTS ARE TAKING, AND PROFITING FROM MANPOWER, INC.'S SECRETARIAL TRAINING COURSE. I would call this "ALMOST MIRACULOUS SUCCESS?" OF COURSE, THESE TRAINEES WILL BE CONTINUING THEIR COURSES WITH O.I.C. AT NIGHT, SO THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE TO MAKE ALL OF THE PROGRESS POSSIBLE, AND A COUNSELOR WILL KEEP IN TOUCH WITH THEM AFTER THEIR JOB PLACEMENTS FOR AS LONG AS NECESSARY TO INSURE THEIR PERMANENT SUCCESS.

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OF COURSE THIS TYPE OF SUCCESS DOES NOT CANCEL OUT THE OPERATIONAL PROBLEMS WHICH STILL BUG THE MILWAUKEE CENTER. AS I SAID, THE WAITING LIST OF APPLICANTS IS GROWING DAILY. IT WILL CONTINUE TO GROW as LONG AS THERE IS A SHORTAGE OF STAFF; TEACHERS AND COUNSELORS. FROM THE BEGINNING O.I.C. HAS NEEDED VOLUNTEER TEACHERS, PARTICULARLY IN THE BASIC LITERACY COURSES. I HAVE ASKED YOU IN THE PAST, AND I URGE YOU NOW: IF YOU QUALIFY AS A TEACHER, COUNSELOR, OR INSTRUCTOR...IF YOU EVEN THINK YOU MIGHT QUALIFY, PLEASE CALL 372-3770 AND VOLUNTEER YOUR SERVICES. SURELY SOME OF YOU CAN AFFORT TO GIVE UP A FEW HOURS A WEEK FOR A PROGRAM THAT HAS ALREADY DEMONSTRATED ITS TREMENDOUS VALUE AND POTENTIAL.

JUST AS O.I.C. DEPENDS UPON VOLUNTEERS TO MAKE UP ITS STAFF, IT DEPENDS UPON DONATIONS TO SUPPLY NECESSARY EQUIPMENT. HERE, AGAIN, YOUR HELP IS NEEDED. THE COURSES ARE STILL BEING SET UP AS THEY GO ALONG; THE STAFF IS STILL LARGELY FEELING ITS WAY. AS THE PROGRAM DEVELOPES, VARIOUS NECESSITIES ARISE. THE CENTER NEEDS DESK CHAIRS, THE KIND USED BY STUDENTS WITH THE DESK-ARM; IT NEEDS TYPEWRITERS AND TYPEWRITER STANDS, OFFICE EQUIPMENT; AND DOES ANYONE HAVE A TIME-CLOCK FOR PRACTICE IN PUNCHING IN AND OUT. YOU CAN BE A VERY REAL HELP IF YOU CAN DONATE ANY OF THIS TYPE OF EQUIPMENT, OR IF YOU KNOW OF ANYONE WHO MIGHT. THE PHONE NUMBER, AGAIN, IS 372-3770.

I FEEL EXTREMELY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE FUTURE OF O.I.C. NEVER HAS ANYONE CONCERNED DOUBTED THAT IT WOULD SUCCEED. WHEN O.I.C. PRESIDENT WALTER HOARD, OR FOUNDER LUCIUS WALKER ASSURED JOBS TO EVERYONE WHO ENROLLED THEY MEANT IT. BUT I THINK EVERYONE MUST HAVE BEEN A LITTLE SURPRISED AT THE SPEED WITH WHICH THE FIRST PLACEMENTS WERE MADE. IF THIS IS ANY

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INDICATION OF WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS, THE PROJECT'S SUCCESS MAY PROVE TO BE EVEN GREATER THAN WE ANTICIPATED.

YOU STILL HAVE A CHANCE TO GET IN ON THE GROUND FLOOR. PLEASE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT! SUCH A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY TO HELP AND IMPROVE YOUR COMMUNITY MAY NEVER COME AGAIN. IF YOU CAN HELP BY DONATING EQUIPMENT, IF YOU THINK YOU MAY BE QUALIFIED TO TEACH, IF YOU do not KNOW WHAT YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO, BUT YOU WANT TO HELP, I ASSURE YOU, YOU WILL NOT REGRET THE TIME IT TAKES TO CALL. EVEN IF YOU ARE JUST CURIOUS, CALL O.I.C. AT 372-3770, TALK TO THE STAFF, GO TO THE CLASS MEETINGS MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY, AT 7:00 P.M. I KNOW THAT YOUR CURIOSITY WILL TURN, AS MINE DID, TO EXCITEMENT AND ENTHUSIASM. AS [??] one [person?] said AT THE VERY START: "O.I.C. IS STARTED AND IT'S GOING TO KEEP ON MOVING."

THAT'S ALL FOR TODAY. GOODBYE AND THANKS FOR LISTENING.