Pathways to Recovery - Opioid Grant
Luz Burbano
Finding Her Calling in Healthcare
Bergen County
Luz Burbano came to the United States from Colombia seeking a better life. With no previous healthcare experience and limited English proficiency, she began working in a warehouse. Luz was grateful for the opportunity, but she knew she was capable of building a more fulfilling future.
That future began to take shape when Luz discovered the Pathways to Recovery Grant offered by Urban WorkForce Advantage. She enrolled with the dream of becoming a Certified Nurse Aide (CNA), even though she was not yet certain she could succeed in the program.
Luz found a support system that recognized her potential and gave her the confidence to keep moving forward.
The Support to Succeed
Through bilingual instruction, dedicated instructors, and job-placement guidance, Luz received the academic, emotional, and career support she needed to thrive. Step by step, she developed the healthcare skills required to turn her goal into a professional credential.
Certified and Employed
Today, Luz is a Certified Nurse Aide in the state of New Jersey and works full-time at Complete Care at Oradell, earning $22 per hour. She no longer doubts her ability to succeed professionally and finds deep fulfillment in helping seniors live with dignity and compassion.
“Before this program, I never imagined myself working in healthcare. Now I wake up every day proud of what I do.”
Finding Her Calling
Luz’s journey demonstrates how access to education and the right support can change a life. Urban WorkForce Advantage and the Pathways to Recovery Grant helped her move from uncertainty into a career where her compassion makes a difference every day—and she has not looked back.
