The Women’s Foundation of Indiana recently hosted and facilitated a Women’s Listening Circle. The event brought together local women business owners and community leaders to share their experiences, discuss challenges, and build connections.
Among those in attendance was Shavouya Terry, owner of Legacy Living Training Center. Terry’s efforts to expand access to healthcare training and employment opportunities in Gary stood out as an example of local entrepreneurship addressing workforce development needs in the community.
Named in honor of her late grandmother, Diane, Legacy Living represents both a family legacy and Terry’s vision for community investment. Located at 4444 Broadway in Gary, Legacy Living Training Center offers certified nursing assistant, home health aide, and CPR training, with plans to introduce qualified medication aide certification courses.
The center’s four-week accelerated CNA program costs $1,200 and includes training materials, scrubs, CPR training, and other required supplies. The self-paced online home health aide course costs $500 and includes an in-person CPR component and an eight-hour, hands-on boot camp. Qualified medication aide training is planned at $1,200, with an additional $300 for insulin training. Terry has also incorporated flexible scheduling, payment plans, and transportation considerations to help reduce barriers for students interested in entering the healthcare field.
Healthcare training programs provide pathways into an industry struggling to hire and retain qualified workers.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nursing assistants earned a national median annual wage of $42,260 in May 2025, although wages vary by employer and location. Nursing assistants work in hospitals, nursing homes, and other healthcare settings, providing essential hands-on care to patients.
While other CNA training opportunities exist in Gary and Northwest Indiana, Terry hopes her program’s accelerated format and flexible payment options will make training more accessible to residents who may otherwise struggle with the cost or time commitment.
Beyond workforce development, Terry’s story reflected her personal journey and commitment to serving others. After struggling to deal with childcare, transportation, and affordability issues during her own CNA training, Terry was inspired to create a program that addresses those same obstacles for future students.
In this Q&A, Capital B Gary highlights her entrepreneurial journey and her healthcare training program.
Capital B: Can you explain what your training program consists of?
Shavaouya Terry: We train certified nursing assistants, offer CPR training and home health aide training, and are preparing to launch qualified medication aide training. Our CNA course is accelerated, lasting four weeks, with different scheduling options. We also work on job-readiness skills, including résumé writing, interview preparation, and professional presentation.
Can you explain what QMA training is, and what are the benefits of these healthcare training paths?
It builds on CNA training and prepares eligible workers to assist with medication administration within the scope of their credentials. There is also an additional insulin-training option. I see strong demand for hands-on healthcare work because people continue to need care as they age or become ill. I keep a list of employers seeking workers, and some of our graduates have started jobs soon after finishing. QMA training can also help support nurses, who have many responsibilities.
What are the qualifications for CNA and QMA training?
CNA is an entry-level pathway. For our program, applicants must be at least 16 years old, complete required screening and TB testing, and meet the program’s admission requirements. A high school diploma is not necessarily required for our training program. For QMA, you must already be a CNA and meet work-experience requirements; I described 1,000 hours or 24 months of work, with possible exceptions that require an application. I encourage students to continue their education beyond their first certification.
What background issues could disqualify someone from entering the program?
Certain criminal convictions may affect eligibility, including violent offenses and some offenses involving theft, fraud, or identity deception. The type of conviction and how long ago it occurred can matter. Some cases have five- or 10-year lookback periods, so applicants should ask about their specific circumstances rather than assume they cannot qualify.
What made you start this business in Gary?
I grew up in Hammond, and Gary is our neighbor. My parents live in Gary, so I have seen some of the needs here firsthand. I felt Gary was often overlooked, and I wanted to bring an opportunity where it was needed. There are other CNA programs, but people do not always know about them, and cost can keep them from enrolling. I wanted to offer training with flexible payment options. Employers are still reaching out looking for workers.
What would you say to someone who is interested in healthcare training but unsure whether it is right for them?
First, I ask: If you take the money out of it, is this something you would still want to do? Compassion and a desire to serve people matter in this work. I encourage people to research the field, even if they decide not to enroll with me. Our four-week CNA course gives students a chance to explore the work, and I try to help address barriers. We have payment plans and alternate class schedules, including a hybrid option during the first two weeks. We are near a bus line, have carpooling options, and are exploring additional transportation support. We want to look at the whole person and what they need to succeed.
What is your ultimate vision for Legacy Living Training Center?
I want this to grow beyond Gary and become a hub for other locations. I also want it to be more than a training center: a community space with free CPR classes, perhaps a food pantry, and opportunities for young people to learn about healthcare careers before they are old enough to enroll.
I originally imagined larger classes, but experience taught me the value of small groups. We cap classes at 10 so students receive individual attention. Students from different backgrounds build relationships, support one another, and often leave feeling like family. We teach both clinical and soft skills, and we are expanding to add QMA training.
