THIS REPORT FROM BUFFALO, NEW YORK, IS OF THE FIRST OF SEVEN REGIONAL CONFERENCES PLANNED TO HELP COMMUNITIES PREPARE THEMSELVES FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE FEDERAL MODEL CITIES PROGRAM, AS PROVIDED BY TITLE I OF THE DEMONSTRATION CITIES AND METROPOLITAN DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 1966. SPONSORED BY THE COOPERATIVE URBAN EXTENSION CENTER, WHICH IS FUNDED UNDER TITLE I OF THE 1965 HIGHER EDUCATION ACT, THE CONFERENCE BROUGHT TOGETHER REPRESENTATIVES OF CITY GOVERNMENT, HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS, WELFARE AGENCIES, VOLUNTARY AGENCIES, CHURCHES, CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS, AND FOUNDATIONS. THE PURPOSE WAS TO ACHIEVE A SENSE OF COMMITMENT TO THE TASK, AN AIRING OF IDEAS THAT CAN BECOME THE CORE OF BUFFALO'S OWN APPROACH TO THE MODEL CITY CHALLENGE, AND AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE NEED TO FORGE A BROAD ADMINISTRATIVE ORGANIZATION, COMPREHENSIVE AND IMAGINATIVE ENOUGH TO COPE WITH PROBLEMS OF BLIGHT AND POVERTY ON A LARGE SCALE. THE SOCIAL ACTION PROGRAM, URBAN RENEWAL, ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, AND CULTURAL PROGRAMS, THE FEDERAL PROGRAM, AND BUFFALO'S RESPONSE TO IT WERE THE DISCUSSION TOPICS. FURTHER CONSIDERATION WAS DIRECTED TO FUTURE SOCIAL ACTION AND COMMUNITY PLANNING WITH PARTICIPANTS EMPHASIZING LOCAL INITIATIVE AND THE STRONG PARTICIPATION OF NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS. (LY)