Student; Janelle Prieto, Global Learning Skills for Life Program Manager, Diageo; Student; Student; Marc Strachan, VP Multicultural Marketing, Diageo; Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling; Dr. Danielle Robinson, Director of Corporate Relations for Diageo’s Alcohol Policy and Reputation Management team, who heads LSFL in the U.S.; Sherone Mullings, Learning Skills for Life Program Manager, Diageo NA; Peter Clayton, Owner Bartending Academy; Student; Stephen Barone, Learning Skills for Life Facilitator; Student; Student; Student.

On June 16, 2014, Diageo graduated the first class of participants from its Norwalk Learning Skills for Life (LSFL) class. This program trains unemployed and underemployed individuals to secure employment in the hospitality industry with a focus on retail, enterprise and bartending, with academic partner Bartenders Academy of Fairfield. The six-week program gives participants, who are over 21 years of age, intensive training in bartending skills alongside managing personal finances, interviewing, working in a team environment, and writing resumes and cover letters. Students came from Norwalk, Bridgeport, Waterbury and Stratford. The Norwalk cohort has placed 57 percent of its students in full time jobs and internships as of press time.