News

Our CEO, Judith Dittman, has been with Second Story for 25 years as of this past July! We are so thankful for her leadership and the ways she has helped the organization grow, change, and develop to best support youth. To celebrate her anniversary Judith shared with us some reflections on the past 25 years.  [Continue reading]

We spoke with Edwin Alfaro, Community Organizer of Opportunity Neighborhoods for Second Story in the Community, about what a typical day looks like at the food distribution center in Culmore.  [Continue reading]

We're looking for at least 500 backpacks filled with school supplies to be donated by August 10th. Your donations will help provide youth a sense of normalcy as they look to an uncertain academic year and help ensure their education isn't disrupted.   [Continue reading]

We are updating this page with our immediate needs as we respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on our programs.  [Continue reading]

All nineteen eligible seniors from Second Story for Homeless Youth and the Culmore Teen Center graduated from high school in 2020!  [Continue reading]

Many of you have messaged us asking for ways to help and responded in overwhelming ways–thank you! Here is another way to get involved: become an ambassador! There are still so many people in the community who don’t know about Second Story or that youth homelessness even exists in Fairfax County, and we rely on

We’re deeply grieved by injustices, such as systemic violence, that impact people of color. Diversity and equality are values that have been at the heart of our mission since the beginning – we have a diverse staff and serve a diverse group of young people and families. We know that injustice persists, that it affects our staff, the youth we serve, and our community as a whole, and that it requires action from each of us.  [Continue reading]

We're updating this page as new stories and information comes in. Our program staff are working on the front lines with youth and families experiencing homelessness and crises, especially as COVID-19 forces them into a new and more challenging way of life.  [Continue reading]

So many of you have stepped up in new ways in this challenging season, making the most of your changes in routines and situations to support us. We asked a few members of our community to share some of the ways they're adapting their support in the midst of COVID-19.   [Continue reading]

Every year we produce an annual report to share our impact. There are so many unknowns for all of us right now in light of COVID-19, but when we look at all you've helped us do in the past it gives us a sense of security. It lets us move forward with confidence in what we'll do together this next year because of the ways you've proven your support in the past.   [Continue reading]

This week marks a national recognition of volunteers and their support of our crucial work. In this challenging season of the COVID-19 pandemic moments of gratitude are even more important, and we're glad for the opportunity to take a step back and reflect on the incredible work of our volunteers.   [Continue reading]

We know that you are being inundated with updates about this pandemic from local businesses, other nonprofits, and the news, and that’s why we’re trying to update you only when we believe it’s truly necessary. However, our needs are evolving constantly. We are creating a special COVID-19 task force of community members like you who want to step up for those who need it most.  [Continue reading]

Because we know how much you care about the young people in our programs, we want to provide an update on the ways we are trying to keep young people safe during the current COVID-19 outbreak.  [Continue reading]

Anne Kim is a Northern VA based writer, focusing on some of the issues at the core of our work. Her new book, "Abandoned: America’s Lost Youth and the Crisis of Disconnection" comes out on February 11th. She has an entire chapter dedicated to Second Story and how our work is helping address this crucial challenge. Her book is an excellent way to really understand some of the big issues Second Story seeks to address.  [Continue reading]

Happy new decade! In 2020 we celebrate not only a new year but a new decade, and we're feeling extra thankful for all the ways we have grown, with your help, over the past 10 years. Read about some of our 2010-2019 highlights.  [Continue reading]