Norwalk Hospital, part of Northwell Health, has graduated 10 young adults from its Academy for Career Readiness, a 12-week program that prepares participants in Norwalk and surrounding Connecticut communities for entry-level hospital jobs.
The 10 graduates form the academy's second cohort. The academy, announced in 2025, graduated its first class of six on May 21, 2026, and some of those graduates now work at Norwalk Hospital.
The hospital developed the academy with Dalio Education, Domus Kids and the McChord Foundation, which provided a grant supporting underserved young people. "Today, we celebrate 10 graduates whose hard work and determination reflect exactly what the Academy for Career Readiness was created to support — meaningful pathways to opportunity, purpose and long-term success," said Dan DeBarba, president of Norwalk Hospital. "Through our collaboration with Dalio Education, the McChord Foundation and Domus Kids, we are honored to help young people in Norwalk and the surrounding communities build the skills, confidence and experience they need to launch careers in healthcare and strengthen the future of our workforce."
Graduates trained through classroom instruction, hands-on work and wraparound support for roles including patient care technician, unit secretary, patient access liaison and environmental services.
Barbara Dalio, founder and chief executive officer of Dalio Education, said the graduates' success shows the value of access and support. "Celebrating the second graduating class from the Academy for Career Readiness is a proud moment for us all and a testament to the hard work and determination of these talented young people. These graduates are an inspiration to their families, communities and the young people who will follow in their footsteps. Their success shows what is possible when young people have access to opportunity and the support they need to pursue it. We are grateful to our partners at Northwell Health for making this program possible, and to the McChords for their continued support and shared commitment to helping young adults build brighter futures."
A 2023 report commissioned by Dalio Education found that nearly 120,000 of Connecticut's 14- to 26-year-olds, including 1,356 in Norwalk, are at risk of or disconnected from education and employment systems that can help them achieve economic self-sufficiency. Dalio Education's investment supports the hospital's workforce development initiative, with plans to bring the academy to Danbury Hospital in the future as part of Northwell Health's broader workforce strategy.
