Dwyer Scholars Take Center Stage in Texas with Governor Greg Abbott

Wow – what a day in Texas! Governor Greg Abbott joined Dwyer Workforce Development on March 17 in McAllen to celebrate more than 50 Dwyer Scholars graduating from our CNA and CMA programs.


With more than 400 attendees, the room was packed with Scholars, families, community leaders, elected officials, and media. A live mariachi band made the celebration even more memorable.


Emceed by DWD Board Member Veronica Gonzales, the event marked more than a milestone—it signaled real momentum. These graduates are stepping into and advancing in careers that are critical to strengthening Texas’ healthcare workforce.

Members of the DWD team joined Governor Greg Abbott, families, and friends in honoring Scholars whose dedication to their careers and communities sets them apart.

We look forward to continuing to grow our impact across the state, strengthening the workforce and creating life-changing opportunities.



Congratulations to our newest graduates!

Big News from the Rio Grande Valley!

More than 10 Dwyer Scholars are officially Certified Medication Aides—an incredible milestone for our first Medication Aide class in Texas’ Rio Grande Valley. We couldn’t be more proud of what this group accomplished!



This achievement was made possible through DWD’s partnership with Wellsential Health and the Cameron County Education Initiative. Thank you for your support. 



Additionally, we want to thank funding partners—Rio South Texas Education and Community Foundation, an anonymous donor, and Dr. Rita Hernandez, President of CCEI—for helping make this opportunity possible. Way to go, Scholars!

Elite Training Dwyer Scholars in Killeen, Texas: Certified and Ready to Make an Impact

Sharron Nursing Dwyer Scholars in Jacksonville, Florida: Milestone Achieved, Impact Ahead

DWD Shines on Fox News in Texas

Our CEO, Barb Clapp, joined Lauren Przybyl and Payton May on FOX 4 News (KDFW-TV) in Dallas-Fort Worth to discuss how DWD is tackling the growing demand for trained healthcare caregivers.

We’re grateful to the FOX 4 team for the opportunity to share how we’re making an impact.

Watch the full segment below!

Caregiving Spotlighted in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Joana Galindo is just one of the many Scholars we are proud to support. From restaurants to the hospital floor, Joana’s path has always been rooted in caring for others. Now a CNA at Sarasota Memorial Hospital in Florida, she recently shared her journey with the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Way to go, Joana! Check out her story.

myRGV.com Op-Ed: 
Training the Next Generation of Healthcare Workers

Communities across Texas are facing a growing shortage of certified nursing assistants. One county alone has lost over 27% of its CNA workforce in the past decade.

DWD’s partnership with Southern Careers Institute in Pharr and Brownsville is providing tuition-free training and wraparound support, helping local students launch stable, debt-free healthcare careers while strengthening our communities.



Read more below!

From Caregiver to CNA: 
Turning Grief into Purpose

After caring for her mother for nearly a decade, Missy Garzona faced a new question: What now? Inspired by the hospice nurses she worked alongside, she enrolled in CNA training with support from DWD.



Today, she’s turning her caregiving experience into a meaningful healthcare career by helping residents thrive at John Knox Village of Central Florida.

Read Missy’s full story below!

Breaking Barriers, Building Leaders: 
Barb Clapp on Women in Leadership Podcast

In the latest episode of Women in Leadership Talk, our CEO, Barb Clapp, shares her remarkable journey, from overcoming a challenging childhood to leading DWD. Barb reflects on how her early life shaped her leadership style and fueled her personal mission: to empower individuals to overcome adversity while tackling critical healthcare workforce shortages.



Through her work, DWD is helping people transform their lives, build meaningful careers, and create stronger communities—one Dwyer Scholar at a time.

🎧 Listen now to hear her journey:

Celebrating Our Dwyer Scholars and Working Moms, Tackling It All

Balancing work and motherhood is no small feat—and our Dwyer Scholars are doing it with incredible strength, resilience, and determination. They are leaders, caregivers, and changemakers and their impact is immeasurable.

Meet Frednisha: a Dwyer Scholar in Texas and devoted mom whose journey reflects the power of perseverance and support. Like many working moms, Frednisha faced the overwhelming challenge of balancing career aspirations with providing for her two young daughters. Through DWD, Frednisha received critical resources—from housing and food support to career guidance—allowing her to focus on building a stable future for her family.

Watch TV spot below to learn more about Frednisha's story.

For Joana, determination isn’t optional—it’s everyday life. A Dwyer Scholar in Florida and single mother of five, she is turning determination into opportunity and inspiring the next generation of healthcare workers. Every day, Joana shows what it means to push forward with purpose, balancing the demands of motherhood while pursuing a future that will create lasting impact for her family and community.


Hear more about Joana's story below!

Expanding Our Impact Through New Partnerships

DWD is thrilled to announce new partnerships with leading organizations dedicated to supporting healthcare workforce development and community well-being. These collaborations will create more opportunities for Dwyer Scholars, providing hands-on training, career pathways, and wraparound support for students pursuing healthcare careers.


• Cantex Continuing Care Network: a leading provider of post-acute healthcare services across Texas
• Inspirit Senior Living: an employer partner in Delaware practicing a continuum of care from independent living to memory care  
• Doctors Hospital at Renaissance: an employer partner in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas
• Health Sciences Institute at Renaissance: a training partner in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas
• AGE of Central Texas: a nonprofit dedicated to helping seniors maintain independence and supporting family caregivers. 
  

DWD is excited to grow with these new partners, strengthening the pipeline of skilled healthcare professionals while addressing critical workforce shortages.

DWD Is Making a Big Impact Across the Rio Grande Valley 💛

Community Engagement Coordinator Joan Garza connected with various partners at different events across the RGV this month to advance our mission and expand healthcare workforce opportunities. 


• International Chamber Summit in Rio Grande City: Joan engaged with RGV leaders, including Mayor Gilberto Falcon, to foster cross-border partnerships in healthcare workforce training.
• Silver Ribbon 5K Run in the Valley: Joan connected with nonprofit partners, nursing facilities, volunteers, and health resource staff while promoting CNA Scholar programs.
• Healthcare Connection Night in McAllen: Joan celebrated National Doctors’ Day with healthcare leaders, generating strong interest in upcoming workforce development workshops and CNA training programs.
• Better Business Bureau March Cafecito in South Texas: Joan shared DWD’s mission in healthcare workforce development and built new community partnerships.
• Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Networking in McAllen: Joan connected with local businesses to expand DWD’s reach and build more healthcare employer relationships. 
• Help Me Grow Committee Meeting in Hidalgo County: Joan collaborated with community leaders to support Easterseals RGV’s fundraising efforts, helping extend essential services to families in need.


Joan’s efforts help strengthen our partnerships, expand opportunities for Dwyer Scholars, and drive meaningful impact across the region!

Building Connections at the SETA Spring Conference

Earlier this month two of our community engagement coordinators, Jodi Jackson and MeShawn Foster, attended the Southeastern Employment and Training Association, (SETA) Spring Conference in Orlando, Florida. At the conference, the pair connected with workforce development peers and workforce boards in various states to share DWD’s mission.

Music and Connection in Austin!

Members of our team connected with partners who invest in our mission at a Lady Gaga concert at Moody Center, a valued partner. The evening was a fun way to unwind while strengthening relationships with those who support our work.

DWD is Growing

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

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.