By Mary Lackie

The goal of the Atlanta Concentrated Employment Program (ACEP) is to find new careers, not dead-end jobs for 2,300 people who are unemployed, or who can’t make enough money to support their families.

ACEP is designed for people who have an annual income of less than $3,000 and live in one of five target areas of the city: Pittsburg, Price, Summerhill-Mechanicsville, Nash-Washington, and West End. Mrs. Cynthia Montague, ACEP community relations specialist, said, “Before their training, most of the people had been doing day work, or lived on welfare, which is not living, it is just existing.”

The trainees are recruited through the EOA neighborhood centers in the areas. Five job coaches and one male recruiter are trained and supervised at the centers.

“The job coaches are dedicated,” Mrs. Montague says. “They have to be. They live in the neighborhoods and do door-to-door recruiting. They walk their beat in all kinds of weather. Many of the clients do not have phones, so the coaches have to go back at suppertime or on weekends to visit them.”

Personal attention and encouragement are part of the ACEP program. When the training is completed, the job coaches continue to follow through providing assistance with legal problems, day care programs for the children, and health care.

ACEP enrollees spend two weeks at the Atlanta Employment Evaluation Center where they receive counseling, complete physicals, psychological and vocational examinations. The average ‘functional level’ of education is fifth grade, said Mrs. Doris Bridges, ACEP director.

After 6 weeks’ training at the ACEP center in Hoke-Smith Vocational School, many of the trainees have jumped three grades and can go on to receive their GED certificate. The pre-vocational curriculum at the school provides courses in basic education, personal improvement, and Friday is ‘interview day’ for the trainees. They evaluate each other’s appearance during the personal improvement sessions, and practice job interviews.

Trainees can continue their education in 12 to 16 week advanced courses including upholstery, clerical work, food service, cashier-sales, sewing, industrial arts and shipping and receiving. Mr. H. C. Davis, an instructor in welding, said, “The nine students who graduated in my last class were all placed in jobs immediately.” “We have so many success stories here, but we need more success,” said Harold D. Roberts, training center director. “Some graduates have gone on to further training courses at the National Communicable Disease Center at Emory

University. Many are employed in public and private industry, at the Veteran’s Hospital, and the Department of Internal Revenue.”

Mrs. Bridges said, “We are trying to find more job opportunities for the trainees. We are asking business men to change their thinking.” “We asking the businessmen to become partners. When the client is given a job, that is just the first step. But, for people who have never worked before, they need support and reassurance. Unless we work as a team, it is not going to work any other way.” The ACEP graduates apply for jobs through the Georgia Department of Labor. They are not placed unless they receive the minimum wage. Since the program began in August, 1967, 1,500 trainees have found work or gone on to continue their education. The $4.5 million program is funded by OEO under contract with the U.S. Department of Labor, and administered by the EOA. Atlanta is one of 19 cities and two rural areas selected for the ACEP program.