What happens when workforce development removes barriers

November 10, 2025

What’s the difference between training and transformation? Addressing what’s actually standing in someone’s way.

Antonio needed to rebuild confidence after a stroke. Ananiya had a degree but couldn’t land a job. Anyeli was searching for purpose and community. Traditional workforce systems would send each person to different programs at different locations. The WISH (Workforce Innovation Skills Hub) Center in the Hybla Valley neighborhood of Fairfax County, brings everything under one roof.

At WISH, participants don’t just access technical training in carpentry, welding, or cybersecurity. They find resume support, interview coaching, transportation assistance, childcare connections—and a community that sees them as capable. This integrated, community-centered approach treats barriers to employment as interconnected problems requiring coordinated solutions.

The results: participants launching careers, restoring purpose, and transforming lives. A new mini-documentary premiered at the Nov. 8 “Together We WISH” celebration captures these powerful stories. As one participant said: “It really felt like family.”

Watch the stories: Together We WISH: A Community Celebration – YouTube

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