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THE MAYOR'S BI-RACIAL COMMITTEE: CITY COMMISSION OF COMMUNITY RELATIONS OF TAMPA, FLORIDA RECEIVES $1,000 LANE BRYANT GROUP AWARD [[image - portrait photograph of man]] [[caption]] REV. A. LEON LOWRY [[/caption]] [[image - portrait photograph of man]] [[caption]] MRS. RUTH ATKINS [[/caption]] [[image - portrait photograph of man]] [[caption]] DR. W. P. DAVIS [[/caption]] [[image - portrait photograph of man]] [[caption]] CODY FOWLER [[/caption]] [[image - portrait photograph of man]] [[caption]] JAMES N. DUNN [[/caption]] Mr. Cody Fowler, chairman of the Mayor's Bi-Racial Committee, and Reverend A. Leon Lowry, chairman of its action arm, the City of Tampa Commission of Community Relations, accepted the $1,000 Lane Bryant Group Award on behalf of their organization. The Mayor's Bi-Racial Committee was formed in 1959, well before the historic Supreme Court decisions on civil rights, by a group of men determined to concretely improve the economic, educational and civic opportunities of Negro citizens. As a direct result, Tampa now enjoys integration in most areas, including public facilities (parks, pools, beaches); private establishments (motels, theatres, restaurants); hospitals and schools. In addition, the Committee has organized integrated pre-school training, special programs to train high school graduates to find and hold jobs and created imaginative programs for both government and industry to enable them to initiate equal employment policies. Mrs. Ruth Atkins of New York City, received a commemorative plaque honoring her as one of six finalists in the Lane Bryant Annual Awards competition for outstanding volunteer service in 1966. Among her numerous contributions to East Harlem, Mrs. Atkins has held various positions on committees for better education. She has been involved in obtaining better housing, improved sanitation conditions, better traffic lights, initiating a church tutoring program, setting up the only free legal services facility in the area, acquiring a Head Start program, creating a teenage program for United Neighborhood Houses, a camp for ghetto children in the country, training of welfare clients, assistance to senior citizens and a program for consumer education and action. A former welfare recipient herself, Mrs. Atkins has been appointed to important posts in the Poverty Program by both former Mayor Robert Wagner and Mayor John V. Lindsay. Dr. W. P. Davis accepted a commemorative plaque honoring the Committee of Concern of Jackson, Mississippi. Negro church buildings were being burned or bombed by a destructive minority of Mississippians who were bringing tragedy and diffusing hatred throughout the State. Concern about these atrocious acts grew until it led to an interfaith and interracial meeting of religious leaders who, in their horror and shame, pulled together in a way never before experienced in Mississippi. Resolved to help rebuild every church, the Committee of Concern reached out to the people. Gifts came from all over the state, the nation and foreign countries. University students came to help; business firms contributed money, materials and services. Forty churches were rebuilt with the largest contributions coming from the people of Mississippi. James N. Dunn of Des Moines, Iowa, received a commemorative plaque honoring him as one of six finalists in the Lane Bryant Annual Awards competition for outstanding volunteer service in 1966. In 1966 James Dunn created the Southeast Side Summer Project to combat the appalling living conditions of the Southeast Bottoms of Des Moines, an area comprised of 60% White, 35% Negro and 5% Spanish. Over 80% of the homes are official listed as deteriorating or dilapidated and use outhouses, while 50 families get their only water from a converted horse trough. Most streets are unpaved. Unemployment is 2.7 times greater than the rest of the city. Through Mr. Dunn's leadership, a tutoring program for children realized a 75% jump in their reading level. Health examinations and immunizations were provided, ultimately becoming a health clinic. Most important, he has revived hope and activity among the people themselves. JAMES N. DUNN RECEIVES LANE BRYANT PLAQUE FOR VOLUNTEER WORK IN DES MOINES, IOWA MRS. RUTH ATKINS RECEIVES LANE BRYANT PLAQUE FOR VOLUNTEER WORK IN NEW YORK CITY DR. W. P. DAVIS RECEIVES LANE BRYANT PLAQUE FOR COMMITTEE OF CONCERN, JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI
