This episode is from the WNYC archives. It may contain language which is no longer politically or socially appropriate.

Press conference with Mayor Robert F. Wagner and Secretary of Labor W. Willard Wirtz to announce a $3,000,000 program called Job Orientation in the Neighborhood (JOIN). The program is co-funded by a Federal grant and the city.

JOIN is designed to aid 20,000 unemployed, untrained youths in New York City. While unemployment rates in the city are at 300,000, the focus of this program will those between 16-21 years of age. This group makes up 26% of the total unemployed. The focus will be on underserved groups such as Puerto Ricans and African Americans. The program will provide vocational guidance, counseling, job training, etc.

Wagner is asked specifically about the "integrationist group's (CORE, NAACP) calls for training and apprenticeship programs for Negro young men." Wagner assures that this program will serve this group and Wirtz adds that this program aims to ease some tensions caused by minority group unemployment.

Wirtz mentions that through this program, successful participants can expect to add $50,000 to their lifetime earnings, without this program the group in question will calls the community $1000/year in public assistance.

Audio courtesy of the NYC Municipal Archives WNYC Collection

WNYC archives id: 70656
Municipal archives id: RT238