Looking Back at 2024: A Year of Impact

2024 was a landmark year for DWD! With the support of our incredible community, we empowered over 6,000 individuals to launch meaningful healthcare careers – helping to ease workforce shortages and elevate patient care.

Explore the highlights in our 2024 Impact Report and see how opportunity is transforming lives.

Dwyer Scholar Spotlight 

Meet Bobby, a Baltimore mother of four and grandmother of four, who’s showing us all what determination looks like.  She is currently going to school at the same time as her youngest daughter and they’re both set to graduate at the same time – how cool is that?!

Thanks to DWD, Bobby discovered a career she’s passionate about and reminds us all that it’s never too late to chase your goals.



Take a listen to her story:

DWD COO Maria Darby Named 2025 Healthcare Hero by The Daily Record

DWD COO, Maria Darby, has been named a 2025 Healthcare Hero in the Community Outreach (Individual) category by The Daily Record for her outstanding contributions to healthcare in Maryland and beyond! This is a well-deserved recognition and she will be honored at an upcoming online event and featured in both the digital and print editions of The Daily Record. Congratulations, Maria!

Check out the full list of honorees here, and read more about her win below!

Partnership Aims to Tackle the Healthcare Workforce Crisis in Florida

Strong partnerships are the foundation of DWD's success, and United Way Suncoast and Hillsborough Community College in Florida are two we truly value. We recently celebrated a new group of CNA graduates from our joint program at an April graduation—and we’re excited for many more to come.

Spectrum Bay News 9 recently highlighted the impact of this partnership, including insights from our Director of Partnerships and Programs, Lisa Chamness. Check it out below!

Working Together to Solve the Healthcare Staffing Shortage in Texas

Dozens of Dwyer Scholars recently graduated from Elite Nurse Aide Training in Bell County, Texas, taking the next step in their healthcare careers and helping to address the region’s staffing shortage. Over the past year, DWD and Elite have trained more than 550 new CNAs. Through career planning, financial assistance, and job placement support, we’re building a more sustainable healthcare workforce in Texas. Way to go, team!

Killeen Daily Herald recently featured this partnership – click below to read the story.

Advocating for Healthcare Workforce Development in Florida

Our CEO, Barb Clapp, hit the ground running in Florida this month, connecting with state legislators, community leaders, and potential partners to champion workforce development. During her visit, Barb had the opportunity to meet with Florida Representative Linda Chaney and tour the historic Florida Capitol building!

Partnerships That Empower Scholar Success

DWD is proud to be building a meaningful partnership with United Way, focused on supporting their Family Centers across Maryland — particularly in East, West, and South Baltimore. These centers work to break down barriers for students and families by providing childcare for student parents, housing support, mental health resources, career pathways, and more.

Recently, Zsa-Shane Smith, our Community Engagement Coordinator, visited Ben Franklin High School and the Ben Center — part of the United Way Neighborhood Zone in South Baltimore. This community school model is a powerful example of what’s possible when we listen, unite, and take action.

Together with United Way teams, we’re working to guide high school seniors into our program and help them launch fulfilling careers in healthcare.

Furthering DWD’s Connections in Florida

Our Director of Partnerships and Programs, Lisa Chamness, and Florida Community Engagement Coordinator, Jodi Jackson, recently traveled across Florida to visit many of our valued partners and strengthen our growing collaborations.

At Elevate Senior Care, an American Healthcare Management Group facility, Dwyer Scholars were hard at work on their clinicals, providing compassionate care to seniors. We had productive conversations about hosting even more Scholars in the future! The team also visited Morningside House of Sarasota to explore the opportunity of launching clinical placements there, further expanding hands-on learning experiences for our Scholars.

In addition, we toured one of the Pruitt Health locations in North Tampa, where we were impressed by their beautiful facility. We are thrilled to share that arrangements are underway for Pruitt Health to host clinicals and hire graduates from our newest class nearby.

We are excited to continue expanding opportunities for our Scholars and building strong partnerships with these outstanding care facilities!

Building Strong Texas Partnerships for Scholar Success

Lisa Chamness, Director of Partnerships and Programs; Sherna’ Barksdale, Director of Case Management; Jamie Rosas, Case Manager; and Joan Garza, Community Engagement Coordinator, had the opportunity to visit Touchstone Communities, a skilled nursing, rehabilitation, and long-term care facility in Alamo, Texas.

During the visit, they discussed opportunities for collaboration and support for future Scholars in the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program, further strengthening the path to success for Dwyer Scholars in the Rio Grande Valley.

Inspiring Future Leaders in Baltimore

Our CEO, Barb Clapp, had the opportunity to be a panelist at Dr. Nancy Grasmick Leadership Institute's workshop at Towson University! She shared her insights on inspiring teams and leading with purpose to advance an organization’s mission. We’re always excited to engage with and support the next generation of leaders!

A Dance For Free Healthcare Training

A TikTok creator recently featured DWD in a video, helping spread the word about our free healthcare training. We love seeing the excitement around our mission!

Celebrating Recent Graduations!

Recently, many Dwyer Scholars have graduated from CNA and GNA classes and received their certifications. We are so excited to see them all grow and blossom this spring season. We can’t wait to see what you do next!

Join us in celebrating this milestone for our Dwyer Scholars!

Who Runs the World? Girls!

DWD team members Tony Phan, Service Navigator, and Zsa-Shane Smith, Community Engagement Coordinator, were honored to attend the 2nd Annual Women in Workforce Luncheon at the Enoch Pratt Free Library — an incredible gathering of inspiring women from HR, Human Services, and Workforce Development!



They had the privilege of networking, engaging in meaningful conversations, and enjoying great food and positive energy. Thank you, Tony and Zsa-Shane, for representing DWD at such an amazing event!

Earth Day Fun

Take a look at the amazing little garden our Program Services Supervisor, Megan Heidler, has been growing at her desk! She’s managed to grow basil, oregano, Brussels sprouts, tomatoes, green beans, peppers, and chives – all in her office. Pictured here are the green beans starting to sprout, showing that you don’t need a lot of space to make something great grow. We’re lucky to have a green thumb on the team!

It's Not a Goodbye, It's a See Ya Later!

At the end of April, the DWD team said goodbye to our amazing social work interns, Maddie and Mars. They were a huge help to our team, and while we’re sad to see them go, we’re excited to see what’s next for them and can’t wait to watch them soar!

Practicing Mindfulness and Reducing Stress!

In honor of April being Stress Awareness Month, the Baltimore Resource Center, partnering with Clay Pots, hosted a Mindful Moments: Managing Stress event where Scholars learned helpful mindfulness techniques, including the Bear Breath method: breathe in for five counts, hold for three, and exhale for five. They also explored daily affirmations to support a more grounded and positive mindset. Try the Bear Breath yourself and see if you feel more relaxed!

New Outfits for Spring!

This month, Scholars in Baltimore had the chance to shop at the DWD Resource Center, picking out at least two outfits each to refresh their wardrobes and step into spring in style. A big thank you to everyone who donated and helped make it possible!

DWD is Growing 

We're expanding our team and looking for passionate individuals to join us in making a positive impact in Maryland and Florida!

Don't miss out on this chance to be part of a dynamic team committed to workforce development!

Know Someone Looking to Grow Their Career in Health Care?

Calling all nonprofits, government agencies, case managers, social workers, faith community leaders, and counselors dedicated to serving unemployed and under-employed community members! We invite you to connect with us and explore how we can collaborate to become a valuable workforce development resource for your organization and the individuals you support. 

Let's work together to empower and uplift our community through meaningful employment opportunities and skill-building programs. Reach out to us today to start this impactful journey together!

Help us spread the word about the impact and positive changes we are making in healthcare. Like, share, and follow our stories on social media to create awareness and inspire others to join our cause.