Dalio Education Donates $5.1M To Launch Nuvance Health Career Academy

DANBURY, CT — Dalio Education has committed $5.1 million to support a new Nuvance Health initiative aimed at preparing disconnected youth in Norwalk and Danbury for careers in health care.

The funding will launch the Academy for Career Readiness, a workforce development program designed in collaboration with Dalio Education to provide training, mentorship and wraparound services to young people aged 18 to 26 who are not engaged in education or employment. The program will debut at Norwalk Hospital and later expand to Danbury Hospital, according to a news release.

The initiative comes as Connecticut faces a shortage of health care workers and a rising number of young residents who are disconnected from career pathways. According to a report commissioned by Dalio Education, more than 119,000 young people in the state fall into this category, including over 2,900 in Norwalk and Danbury combined.

“This support underscores our shared commitment to empowering underemployed youth in Norwalk and Danbury,” said Katie Cullinan, chief human resources officer at Nuvance Health. “It also comes at a pivotal time as we address the critical shortage of healthcare workers in our state.”

The Academy is part of Nuvance Health’s broader workforce strategy, which includes targeted outreach to high school students, young adults with disabilities, college students, and adults with barriers to employment. Through immersive, 18-month programs, participants will receive classroom instruction, on-the-job training, and career readiness services.

Participants also receive assistance with housing, transportation, childcare, food insecurity, and mental health support. Graduates will have access to a career counselor, mentorship, career ladders, continuing education, and financial aid options such as loan forgiveness and tuition reimbursement.

Barbara Dalio, founder and CEO of Dalio Education, said the goal is to build a scalable model for how public, private, and nonprofit partnerships can support underserved youth. “These young people have dreams, aspirations and tremendous potential but lack opportunities,” Dalio said.