THE PURPOSE OF THIS CONFERENCE WAS TO BRING TOGETHER AGENCIES, ORGANIZATIONS, AND GROUPS CONCERNED WITH POVERTY IN SOUTHWESTERN UNITED STATES. REPRESENTATIVES OF 53 ORGANIZATIONS MET IN TUCSON TO LEARN OF POVERTY FROM THE POOR. DISADVANTAGED PEOPLE OF ANGLO, INDIAN, NEGRO, AND MEXICAN-AMERICAN BACKGROUNDS WERE HEARD IN A FORMAT SIMILAR TO THAT EMPLOYED IN CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS. PARTICIPANTS INDICATED THE CONFERENCE GAVE THEM A GREATER AWARENESS OF THE NATURE OF POVERTY IN THE SOUTHWEST AND A KEENER UNDERSTANDING OF THE POWER ELITE ATTITUDES TOWARD THAT POVERTY. SUGGESTIONS FOR ATTACKING POVERTY IN THE SOUTHWEST INCLUDED--(1) RE-EXAMINATION OF THE OPENNESS OF THE INTERNATIONAL BORDER, (2) INCLUSION OF FARM WORKERS UNDER STATE LABOR LAWS, (3) INTERSTATE STUDY OF SCHOOLS WHICH SERVE PEOPLE WHO SPEAK ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE, (4) MORE INVOLVEMENT OF THE POOR IN PLANNING PROGRAMS INTENDED TO BENEFIT THE LESS FORTUNATE, AND (5) A KEENER NATIONAL RESPECT FOR THE CULTURAL DIFFERENCES IN THE SOUTHWEST. (SF)