The short film Always Forward follows Ninah and her daughter, refugees who fled to the United States. After immigrating Ninah finds herself without a home, without a job, and paralyzed by the traumas from her past. Filled with doubt, hope, and determination, Ninah leans into the kindness shown to her and discovers she too could be a part of the fabric of everything that makes this country beautiful. After she is introduced to the NVFS Training Futures program, Ninah is set on an upward trajectory toward a life rooted in a new homeland – one where anything is possible.

Ninah’s story is based on the true stories of our Training Futures graduates and NVFS’ Immigrant Resiliency. While each story is different, all our trainees leave on a path of growth and success.

NVFS knows the immigrant community and culture in our region because we live and breathe our diverse community every day. More than two-thirds of our clients were born outside of the United States. More than half of NVFS staff are bi-cultural, and with staff that speaks a total of 16 different languages, we are proud to be a bilingual agency. NVFS’ culturally diverse, highly trained, and dedicated professionals are uniquely qualified to work with immigrants and refugees from all over the world who now call Northern Virginia home. We pride ourselves on our culturally and linguistically sensitive, tailored supports which help ensure that whatever their country of origin, NVFS is ready to provide our immigrant and refugee clients with the support, education, and well-being resources that they need to help them, and their families, thrive in our community. We invite you to learn more about the Immigrant Resiliency Fund.

Training Futures is a nationally recognized workforce development program with proven results, providing training for living-wage professional careers. The program is designed to give job seekers the tools, guidance, and confidence to successfully (re)enter the job market. Our innovative curriculum in a simulated office environment has two primary goals: to help under- and unemployed adults secure professional careers with potential for advancement and to meet the needs of local employers who seek qualified, entry-level workers. Now in its 24th year, Training Futures has set up more than 2,200 people from diverse backgrounds and experiences to take the next step in their careers. Within six months of graduation, 72% of trainees secure full-time employment. We invite you to learn more about Training Futures.