A visit to a welfare-to-work program whose participants say it actually, like, works:
Say one thing for the women packing an airless classroom in East Harlem: They’ve mastered call-and-response. “You have skills and education, what else do you need?” asks Angelo Rivera, who is teaching this career development class to a group of about 30 public assistance recipients, all female. “Experience!” comes the answer.
A few minutes later, Rivera throws another one at them: “Ready for the question?” It’s actually a quote, and he wants to know – “Who said that?”
There’s silence, then someone ventures: “Abernathy?”… [read more]