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Noah Adams Noah Adams, long-time co-host of NPR's All Things Considered, brings more than three decades of radio experience to his current job as a contributing correspondent for NPR's National Desk.
Noah Adams 2010
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Noah Adams

Low-Wage America: The Family Refuge Center

In America, it is possible to work full time but not make a living. More than 20 million workers earn less than $9 an hour, and have trouble affording the basics -- housing, food, clothing, transportation and health care. NPR's Noah Adams continues his year-long series profiling low-wage jobs with a look at workers at a West Virginia family shelter.

Low-Wage America: The Family Refuge Center

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Low-Wage America: Joanna Veres

NPR's Noah Adams concludes his series of reports about single low-wage working mothers in Maine with the story of Joanna Veres and her three-and-a-half-year-old daughter Janallie. Verez is 19, and came to this country from the Dominican Republic when she became pregnant, moving in with relatives in Florida and later in New Jersey, then Maine.

Low-Wage America: Joanna Veres

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Low-Wage America: Kendra Johns

As part of a year-long series on low wage workers, NPR's Noah Adams profiles a single mom in Maine. She works two jobs and earns about 12,000 a year. She gets support from family and after-school child care through a privately funded program, but there's never much room for anything above the basics.

Low-Wage America: Kendra Johns

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'The Flyers: In Search of Wilbur and Orville Wright'

The latest book by NPR's Noah Adams follows the quest by the Wright brothers to be the first to build a heavier-than-air craft that could fly on its own power. He talks about the book with NPR's Melissa Block at the site of the first-ever plane crash death in 1908. Read an excerpt from The Flyers describing that fateful day.

'The Flyers: In Search of Wilbur and Orville Wright'

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Letters from Listeners

Thursday is the day that All Things Considered reads letters from listeners. Among this week's topics: the obituary of Edward Said; gratitude for Noah Adams' piece on working mothers in Maine; a savvy listener's "October Fools" observation; and suggestions for the Wisconsin quarter.

Letters from Listeners

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Low-Wage America: Working at TJ's Restaurant

In the first of a series of reports on single working mothers in Maine, NPR's Noah Adams visits TJ's restaurant in Auburn for a conversation with two waitresses, Tammy Ogden and Deborah Simpson, and a dishwasher, Rebecca Brown. The wait staff are paid $3.18 an hour, half of Maine's minimum wage, plus tips. They like the spilt shift work, which allows them to spend time with their youngsters in the late afternoon. Simpson now works just half of the year at TJ's, so she can serve in the Maine House of Representatives, which pays $9,000 and provides health insurance. As a lawmaker, Simpson was able to vote for her own waitress pay raise when Maine increased its minimum wage.

Low-Wage America: Working at TJ's Restaurant

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Low-Wage Workers

According to some estimates, more than 20 million Americans work, but still can't satisfy basic needs of food and shelter. NPR's Noah Adams traveled the country talking to some of these low-wage workers. Join NPR's Neal Conan and NPR's Noah Adams for a discussion on low-income workers.

Guests:

Noah Adams
*NPR National Correspondent

Beth Shulman
*Author of "The Betrayal of Work: How Low Wage Jobs Fail 30 Million Americans" (The New Press, 2003)

Rick Berman
*Executive Director of Employment Policies Institute

Low-Wage Workers

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Low-Wage America: Marzs Mata

As part of his continuing series of stories on the challenges of getting by on a low-wage job in America, NPR's Noah Adams profiles Marzs Mata, a Detroit woman who doesn't have a car, can't afford to live near her job, and spends about five hours a day getting to and from work. Listen to other worker profiles, and see photos of the people profiled.

Low-Wage America: Marzs Mata

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National

Low-Wage America: Outdoor Theatre in Xenia, Ohio

More than 20 million workers earn less than $9 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. At those levels, many people have trouble making a living. In Xenia, Ohio, NPR's Noah Adams talks to two actors who make $190 a week performing in Blue Jacket, a long-running outdoor drama.

Low-Wage America: Outdoor Theatre in Xenia, Ohio

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Low-Wage America: Keeneland Race Course

James Graham is a horse exercise rider in Lexington, Ky. As part of a continuing series of stories on the challenges of getting by on a low-wage job in America, NPR's Noah Adams profiles Graham and his co-workers at the Keeneland Race Course horse-racing track.

Low-Wage America: Keeneland Race Course

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Low-Wage America: Marshall Cox

More than 20 million workers earn less than $9 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. At those levels, many people have trouble making a living. In Corbin, Ky., NPR's Noah Adams talks with 24-year-old Marshall Cox, who earns $6.25 an hour as a fast-food worker but dreams of pursuing a career in drafting.

Low-Wage America: Marshall Cox

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Low-Wage America: Sandy Hicks

In America, it is possible to work full time but not make a living. NPR's Noah Adams begins a year-long special assignment, traveling the nation to profile America's low-income workforce. In this segment, Adams profiles Sandy Hicks, a housekeeper at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

Low-Wage America: Sandy Hicks

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Low-Wage America: Laressa Matthews

Laressa Matthews lives and works in Balitmore, Md., operating a home day care center. Her day is 13 hours long, beginning at 5 a.m. She cares for eight children, ranging in age from just over one year to 12. She is one of tens of million of people who are low wage workers, earning less than $9 per hour. As part of a yearlong series of profiles of low-wage workers, NPR's Noah Adams spent the day with Laressa Matthews as she feeds, cares for and teaches the children and their mothers. She has no health care, no savings and no safety net.

Low-Wage America: Laressa Matthews

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