If you really have passion for a specific career field, it’s important to work in that field for a while to see which area you enjoy and wish to pursue. That’s exactly what Rachel German sought to accomplish. For the last three years she has worked with animals and hopes to make it a career.

Nyrasia Lomax’s academic path has been strewn with rejection and uncertainty. But, with grit, determination and support from faculty and staff at HCC, she’s a handful of credits away from graduation.

Three Norwalk students were among 15 who recently graduated from Housatonic Community College's Community Health Worker program.

Veronica Nance-White, Angel Pol-Diaz and Noelis Claudio of Norwalk joined Sharon Campbell, Michealle Hunter Caldwell, Denise Kilic, Madeline Kinchen, Melissa Rivera, Natasha Summers, and Tayreesha Martin of Bridgeport; Nora Isselee of Milford; Lisa Coker of Stamford; and Earlee Green, Sasha Jean-Baptiste, and Jackie McKoy of Stratford in graduating from the course.

The non-credit course prepares students for a career helping individuals, families, groups and communities to develop access to a variety of resources that include health care and social service agencies, and others that provide health insurance, food, and housing. The next class starts Aug. 11.

For more information about the course, contact Marilyn Wahlberg at 203-332-8509.

Housatonic is at 900 Lafayette Blvd. in downtown Bridgeport, less than 150 yards off Exit 27 of I-95 and Exit 1 off Rte. 8, a block from the Harbor Yard sports complex. Free parking is available in the Housatonic garage.

About four years ago, the Bridgeport early childhood education community formed a partnership with several communities in rural South Africa.