Funding changes devastate programs for youths in Culmore and Annandale

Second Story, a nonprofit that serves youths and families in underserved areas, learned with very little notice that four of its programs were at risk of closing on July 1 “due to unexpected interruptions to long-standing funding sources,” said Chief Executive Officer Jade Leedham.

Second Story was able to save the Culmore Teen Center, at least temporarily, thanks to donations, but shut down the Safe Youth Projects in Culmore, Annandale, and Springfield.

Without sufficient funding, “we made the difficult decision to prioritize the Culmore Teen Center and reached out to the community for help,” Leedham said.

Second Story has received grant funding for youth intervention programs from Fairfax County’s Consolidated Community Funding Pool for decades. “Changes to the CCFP funding pool this year have led many organizations – including Second Story – to lose funding for critical, long-standing programs that have been essential to our community,” she said.

Leedham said Second Story was able to secure last-minute funds for the Culmore Teen Center, but it isn’t enough to keep it going for the long term.

She encourages community members to make a donation to Second Story to ensure the stability of its programming.

Related story: Second Story makes sure Culmore kids are ready for school

The Safe Youth Program in Annandale served kids in grades 4-6 at St. Barnabas’ Episcopal Church on Ravensworth Road. It provided a safe space for homework help, exposure to the arts, and STEM education. The program offered field trips to Washington Nationals games, summer camps, and other activities.

The Culmore Teen Center opened 30 years ago at the request of the county, “which needed a nonprofit partner with local expertise to help address issues such as gang activity, drug dealing, trafficking, and more, while also providing teens with a safe place to go after school,” Leedham said.

The drop-in center is conveniently located in an apartment complex where many teens live. It serves youths ages 13-18, providing homework help, food, and information on financial literacy, career opportunities, and workforce development. Second Story takes the teens on college tours and helps them apply for scholarships.

Second Story’s Youth Council, which helps teens develop leadership skills, is based at the Culmore Teen Center. “These members advocate for safer neighborhoods, pedestrian safety, and opioid prevention,” Leedham said. “They’re doing really important advocacy work. It helps them tap into their true potential.”

Second Story focuses on homelessness among youths. “When you look at the whole picture, it’s not just about helping youths in trouble; it’s working to prevent youths from becoming homeless,” she said. “The Teen Center is one place where teens can find the right support systems and escape the stress they might be experiencing at home.”

Last year, the Teen Center and the three Safe Youth Project locations served nearly 400 young people.

Related story: Culmore youths feel unsafe

Now that the Safe Youth Project in Culmore, which serves students in grades 4-6, has been terminated, Leedham expects fewer teens will be able to participate in the Culmore Teen Center and Youth Council. Some of those teens might need to care for their younger siblings while their parents are working.

“These youth intervention programs aren’t just afterschool programming,” Leedham said. “They keep kids safe and engaged, and they help prevent them from ending up on the streets in the future.”

“Second Story is continuing to advocate to county leaders to protect and fund long-standing funding streams that are critical to the most vulnerable youth in our county,” Leedham said. Meanwhile, the organization needs the community’s help, not just to preserve the Teen Center, but to ensure the sustainability of its programs for homeless youths and young mothers.