I found myself on a street of dead eyes. People here have all seen life go off and leave them. Cleveland was one of the toughest places in America for someone young and black to find a job. One of the roughest for someone of any color. But a program called Cleveland Works has begun to break that cycle of poverty. They only train people for jobs that pay more than the minimum wage. Lawyers clear criminal records. Doctors help them battle drugs and alcohol. Daycare watches their kids.
All that is expensive. About twice as much as other county programs, but 70% have found good paying jobs with health benefits. So, welfare savings have been dramatic. $3 back for every dollar invested in Cleveland Works.
