INFORMAL EDUCATION PRIMARILY INCLUDES EDUCATION FOR EVERYDAY EFFECTIVE LIVING AND DOES NOT NECESSARILY HAVE TO INCLUDE COURSES FOR CREDIT AT THE HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE LEVELS. MILLIONS OF POVERTY STRICKEN PEOPLE CAN BENEFIT FROM THE TYPE OF INFORMAL EDUCATION PROVIDED THROUGH THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY (OEO) IN SUCH PROGRAMS AS--(1) THE JOB CORPS, (2) THE NEIGHBORHOOD YOUTH CORPS, (3) THE VISTA PROJECTS, (4) THE TUSKEGEE INSTITUTE COMMUNITY EDUCATION PROGRAMS, (5) THE YOUTH EDUCATION SERVICES, INC., AND (6) VARIOUS OTHER HEALTH AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. THE POWER STRUCTURES IN SOME OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES OF THE SOUTH HAVE OPPOSED MANY OF THE OEO PROGRAMS AND BLOCKED THEIR PROGRESS, BUT BY CONTINUING THESE PROGRAMS THE RURAL POVERTY CYCLE CAN BE BROKEN. THIS SPEECH WAS DELIVERED AT THE NATIONAL OUTLOOK CONFERENCE ON RURAL YOUTH, OCTOBER 23-26, 1967, WASHINGTON, D.C., SPONSORED JOINTLY BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENTS OF AGRICULTURE, HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE, INTERIOR, AND LABOR, OEO, AND THE PRESIDENT'S COUNCIL ON YOUTH OPPORTUNITY. (ES)