From Setback to Comeback: Misty’s CNA Journey

Meet Misty, a Dwyer Scholar who turned a painful chapter into a powerful comeback. After being arrested, Misty found her second chance through Launch Point CDC in Houston.

With grit, grace, and the support of her community, she graduated as a CNA just one year later—proving that your past doesn’t define your future. Her story is just one of many examples of our Dwyer Scholars overcoming the obstacles in their path.

New Sponsors Join DWD’s Careforce Collective Leadership Event!

Join us on October 9 for the inaugural Careforce Collective Leadership Breakfast—a morning of purpose, connection, and impact you won’t want to miss. Mark your calendar and be part of this powerful gathering from the very beginning.

About the Event:

The Penguin Room at Whitehall Mill | Baltimore

8:00–10:30 AM

What to Expect:

Scholar Spotlights: Hear powerful stories from Dwyer Scholars

Engagement Moments: Sponsors are paired with a Scholar for a year of shared growth and updates

Networking: Connect with leaders driving change in Maryland

Corporate Recognition: Your brand, your impact—front and center

Thank you to our Careforce Collective sponsors: 

CFG Bank

Dream Big

Noble Care

The Monument Group

HillCo Partners

Constantine Construction

It Works Learning Center, Inc.

Propel Insurance

Warschawski

Devaney Agency

MOI

Want to get involved?

This isn’t just a breakfast—it’s an investment in education, health equity, and the future of our workforce. Show your leadership in building stronger communities and supporting the next generation of healthcare heroes. Sponsorships start at $5,000.

Contact mboyle@dwyerworkforcedev.org to get involved.

Big Goals, Big Impact: 100,000 CNAs by 2030!

DWD was recently featured in McKnight’s for our ambitious goal to train 100,000 new CNAs by 2030!

CNAs are the backbone of long-term care, and the demand has never been greater. We’re proud to see this mission gaining attention—and even prouder of the impact ahead.

DWD CEO Barb Clapp is a Baltimore Business Journal Power 10 CEO

Our very own CEO, Barb Clapp, has been named as a Baltimore Business Journal 2025 Power 10 Honoree! This honor celebrates Barb’s incredible leadership, bold ideas, and dedication to making a difference—both in business and in the community. From driving innovation to giving back through board service and nonprofit work, she leads with heart and purpose. We couldn’t be prouder. Congratulations, Barb!

Central Texas Strong: DWD Joins the Effort to Support Flood Relief

We’re proud to stand with our Texas partners as part of the Central Texas Strong Online Auction, to raise funds for families affected by recent catastrophic flooding.

The auction, hosted by Austin Arena Company, LLC, the operator of Moody Center, features amazing local items and experiences—with every bid helping to support recovery efforts across the region. As a partner deeply rooted in community support, DWD is committed to showing up not just in the classroom, but when our communities need us most.

Click below to place your bid before the auction closes on August 4!

DWD CEO Barb Clapp on Charm City Dreamers Podcast

It was a true pleasure to join Charm City Dreamers in the studio! Our CEO Barb Clapp had an incredible time talking all things DWD—from our mission to our growth to where we’re headed in the future—and how our holistic workforce development efforts are changing lives. Keep an eye out for our episode dropping in mid-August.

DWD Featured on Great Day SA

We’re excited to share that DWD was recently featured on San Antonio’s “Great Day SA” on KENS 5! The segment highlighted a critical issue: CNAs make up nearly 60% of nursing facility staff, yet Bexar County has seen a 37% drop in CNA employment over the past decade. That’s where DWD comes in.

In partnership with Southern Careers Institute, we offer FREE 5-week CNA training—covering tuition, scrubs, and transportation—because we believe access should never hold anyone back.

As Dwyer Scholar Jenniferlee said on the show:

“The support I’ve received from Dwyer with tuition and transportation has made a huge difference.” This isn’t just training—it’s a launchpad for healthcare careers.

Watch the whole segment below!

Graduations Across DWD!

An amazing graduation season continued in July, with Scholars across all our states celebrating after receiving their CNA or GNA certifications—including our very first graduation in Bryan, Texas! We are so excited to see our Scholars grow and thrive in your careers.

Check out some pictures from the graduations below!

Our First Graduation in Bryan, Texas with Partner Launch Point

44 Graduates From Sharron Nursing Academy in Florida

11 Graduates From Brevard in Florida

25 Graduates From Wellsential Knapp Medical Center in Texas

From Classroom to Career

We’re so proud of our incredible DWD Scholars—especially those who recently passed their CNA/GNA exams!



A few of them stopped by our offices, and of course, we couldn’t let them leave without snapping a quick picture to celebrate this incredible milestone.

We can’t wait to see where your journey takes you next!

A New Partnership Blooms in Baltimore

Over the past few weeks, our Maryland Community Engagement Coordinator, Zsa-Shane, had the joy of connecting with the incredible team at Y Maryland.

She toured the Y Druid Hill Resource Center, Mervo High School, and Forest Park High School—meeting students already diving into CNA/GNA pathways, dental hygiene, and other healthcare tracks that are setting them up for long-term success.

Zsa-Shane also spent time with the New Horizons program, where young people are exploring careers, building confidence, and finding mentors who believe in their potential.

This budding partnership is just getting started, and we’re excited to see how it grows to support even more Baltimore students on their path to thriving careers and empowered lives.

Uplifting Voices in Our Communities

Our Community Engagement Coordinator for Pennsylvania and Delaware, Aquisha Bates, recently attended Storyology: Find Your Voice, Share Your Power—an event hosted by the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce celebrating the strength of women’s voices.

Held at the beautiful Terrain Gardens at Devon Yard, the event featured Emmy Award-winning journalist and ABC Channel 6 news anchor Jessica Kartalija as the keynote speaker. Jessica shared powerful lessons on confidence, communication, and showing up authentically—reminding us that our voices can be both heard and felt.

Aquisha left feeling inspired to keep using her voice to uplift others—something we believe in deeply at DWD. Because when women lead with their stories, they create change far beyond themselves.

Empowering Connections in the Rio Grande Valley

It’s been a busy and inspiring month for our Texas Community Engagement Coordinator, Joan Garza, who brought DWD's mission to life at three impactful events in the Rio Grande Valley.

Manic Mixer

Joan connected with local business leaders at this Chamber of Commerce RGV event, building partnerships that support economic opportunity across the region.

Workshop for Young Mothers

She led a career-readiness session for moms enrolled in a state support program, sharing how Dwyer can walk alongside them on their career journey.

Nonprofit Networking Roundtable

Hosted by AFP RGV and Contexto Consulting, this roundtable explored effective strategies for meaningful community outreach.

Whether in a small business setting or a classroom full of hopeful moms, DWD is proud to empower families, advance careers, and transform futures.

Welcome New Team Members!

We are so excited to welcome our RETURNING Summer Interns—Bea and Jayden! 

Bea just graduated from the University of Maryland with her B.A. in Psychology and is heading to grad school this fall to pursue her master’s in social work. We’re thrilled to have her back for a second summer!

And Jayden is back for his third summer! He just wrapped up his freshman year at the University of Pittsburgh, where he’s studying nursing.

We’re so lucky to have these two incredible interns back on the DWD team this summer!

We're also thrilled to introduce four incredible new team members who have joined DWD!

Julia Ballentine, Communications Specialist

Bringing a wealth of experience in storytelling, Julia is passionate about developing anything and everything for DWD collateral.

Aquisha Bates, Community Engagement Coordinator in Pennsylvania and Delaware

With a strong desire to help people overcome any obstacle, Aquisha is excited to support our Scholars in meaningful ways.

Deja Fraiser, Front Desk Coordinator

With a strong dedication to creating a welcoming and supportive environment, Deja is ready to help us grow and make a difference.

Alli Rutledge, Community Engagement Coordinator in Texas: With a background in Human Resources, Alli is ready to help us grow, making connections between our Scholars and our Community partners.



Please join us in giving them a warm Dwyer welcome—we’re so glad they’re here!

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.