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City announces fleet of new job-placement programs – Metro US

City announces fleet of new job-placement programs

Mayor Michael Bloomberg Mayor Michael Bloomberg made the announcement in a speech to a Bushwick job-placement group. Credit: NYC Mayor’s Office

Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced Monday a fleet of new programs he said will deliver new jobs to low-income New Yorkers.

Speaking at Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow, a Bushwick group that offers job-placement help, the mayor launched eight programs to connect New Yorkers with career placement.

One program will help people pursuing an associate degree or certification by giving them workplace experience in their field of study, such as an internship at a tech company for someone at CUNY’s New York City College of Technology.

Another program will create apps to link job searchers and gigs, for example helping a student find a job within a 30-minute subway ride.

Vacant land will also be put to employment use — designated areas in Brownsville and East New York can become businesses, like a pop-up store that could bring jobs.

Still another program targets immigrants, helping provide them with skills training and career planning.

Many immigrants arrive with advanced degrees from their home countries, like engineering or a medical degrees, but must undergo more education or training here.

Leslie Robbins, director of the Riverside Language Program, which offers free English for Speakers of Other Languages classes, recalled a conversation in a cab 25 years ago.

She asked her driver what he did before coming to New York.

“I was a cardiologist in Russia,” he replied, “but I have no dream of being a doctor in the U.S.”

With the new programs, she said, “New York City will benefit from a whole new pool of intellectual riches.”