Nonprofit’s six-month Career Readiness Program equips Stamford adults with future-ready tech skills

Stamford, CT (November 6, 2025) – dae, a Connecticut nonprofit redefining tech education through human connection and hands-on learning, celebrated the graduation of its latest adult software engineering class on October 30 at the newly opened Stamford Tech Hub.

dae’s Career Readiness Program offers tuition-free learning experiences for adults ages 18 and older from Stamford and surrounding communities who, for a variety of reasons, have had limited access to high-earning and high-growth careers. In addition to one-day digital immersions and three-week tech career explorations, dae’s flagship six-month program prepares individuals with little or no previous experience for entry-level careers in cybersecurity, backend web development, and data science.

Grounded in dae’s belief that real growth happens when people can show up as themselves and push past limitation, the program combines technical instruction with mentorship, reflection, and a strong sense of belonging that extends well beyond the classroom. Learners in the three-week and six-month programs also receive financial stipends to help offset living expenses.

“Most of our learners didn’t come in thinking this was possible for them,” said a.m. bhatt, dae’s founder and CEO. “Watching them cross this threshold is a reminder that talent is everywhere — it’s opportunity and belonging that have been unevenly distributed.”

The Stamford Tech Hub, housed within Charter Communications’ corporate headquarters, was developed through a collaboration between Charter Communications, the City of Stamford, and the Stamford Partnership. Designed to strengthen the region’s innovation ecosystem, the Hub supports workforce development, entrepreneurship, and technology training by connecting local talent with its education partner, dae.

dae’s will officially begin utilizing the new space on November 10, bringing its current cohort of adult learners from their temporary home at Stamford Old Town Hall. The recent graduation celebrated six adult learners specializing in cybersecurity and backend web development who have not only gained marketable technical skills, but a deep competence in the interpersonal and organizational skills required to succeed in the modern workplace. Through dae’s human-centric approach, they also develop the confidence, adaptability, and community-building capacity to define success on their own terms and move forward with purpose.

“My dream job is software engineering,” said Zahra Shefa, who graduated from dae’s Career Readiness Program with a concentration in backend web development. “Despite the language barrier and not having enough knowledge [at the beginning of the program] about those skills that we covered at dae, I feel I could overcome those challenges and now feel more confident in both my workforce skills and also technical skills.”

The six-month Career Readiness Program includes job search training, resume development, and the creation of a professional portfolio of technology projects that demonstrate each learner’s full capabilities to employers. Since dae’s launch in 2020, nearly 2,000 high school and adult graduates have launched their careers through innovative learning and development on the latest in technology, expanding access to opportunity across Connecticut.

“I'm moving into a role as a technical project manager which is pretty exciting,” said Lisa Hom, a current dae student who was recently hired by a local university. “It's going to allow me to leverage my skills in being organized and detail oriented as well as being able to grow with the technical skills I've gained through the program.”

dae is located at 770 Chapel Street in New Haven and, in Stamford, operates from the Stamford Tech Hub at 400 Washington Boulevard for adult programs and at the Synchrony Skills Academy at 777 Longridge Road for high school programs. Those interested in learning more can call (203) 401-8768 or visit mydae.org. For the latest news and updates, follow @mydae.community on Facebook and @dae.community on Instagram.

About dae

dae is a Connecticut-based nonprofit redefining tech education through human connection and hands-on learning. Part community hub and part incubator, dae provides high school students and adult learners from historically underserved communities with free access to explore the most in-demand uses of technology. Headquartered in New Haven with two additional locations at the Stamford Tech Hub and the Synchrony Skills Academy, the nonprofit offers programs for adults ranging from single-day digital immersions to six-month career readiness pathways, and programs for high school students that include single-day immersions and a ten-month intensive. Projects are based on the learner’s interest, the needs of the market, and the future of the tech world. For more information, visit mydae.org.