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Second Story

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Our Second Stories

Stories of young people who connected with our programs, got the support they needed, and began writing their Second Stories. (Unless otherwise specified, names and identifying details have been changed to protect privacy.)

Listen to the Second Stories Podcast

The Second Stories podcast is dedicated to telling stories of people who had first stories full of hardship and hopelessness, yet were able to change the narrative and write their own second story. Their stories of resilience and hope, but also tributes to the people and experiences and organizations that made it possible for them to start again.

Listen
Delilah

Delilah’s Second Story

“Delilah” had been staying with an older man for almost a week when her anxious parents finally located her. She came to the teen shelter, and admitted to the counselors that she wasn’t always searching for respect in her relationships, but running away from loneliness instead.

Read
Izzy

Izzy’s Second Story

Izzy shivered in the dark, cradling her growing belly. She was pregnant. She imagined caring for her baby in her tent without heat, without four sturdy walls, totally exposed to the wind and cold. She knew she couldn’t stay there much longer. So Izzy reached out to Second Story for Young Mothers.

Read
Eliza

Eliza’s Second Story

“Eliza” felt like she had plunged into a nightmare. In a moment, she lost everything she held close: her parents were killed, requiring her to leave everything she knew at home and move to the United States to live with extended family. In the midst of her tension, Eliza came to Second Story’s teen shelter.

Read
Maria

Maria’s Second Story

“Maria”, an upcoming 5th grader, always asked for help with language arts. But Maria wasn’t simply frustrated by the assignment--she was even having trouble reading the instructions. Then she met a Safe Youth Project volunteer named Lisa.

Read
Debbi

Debbi’s Second Story

"Debbi" was kicked out of her home by her father. She'd been receiving demeaning comments and emotional abuse from her father for a long time. With us she found a safe place to stay, warm meals, and support.

Read
Bella

Bella’s Second Story

The lice went away. But the stigma did not. Bella became embarrassed that she had experienced a lice episode, and began avoiding the Safe Youth Project.

Read
Jonesha

Jonesha’s Second Story

"My father, he didn’t know I existed. Not until I was three, when my mother passed away. He was notified, and got joint custody with my adopted mom."

Read
Claire

Claire’s Second Story

Claire was apprehensive about sharing personal details. She was afraid that our counselors would return her to live with her father.

Read
Tommy

Tommy’s Second Story

In a life-shattering event, Tommy’s mother left him, and he and his father were alone. Tommy felt abandoned. He lost the ability to trust others.

Read
Kayla

Kayla’s Second Story

When she first arrived, her mother told our staff that 12-year-old Kayla was having difficulty making friends and adjusting to the US school system.

Read
Ricky

Ricky’s Second Story

Ricky could have become a runaway, and stepped onto the path to homelessness, or succumbed to the promises of gangs who prey upon high school students living marginal lives.

Read
Tim

Tim’s Second Story

From the time Tim was just a baby until he became too old and "aged out" of the system, he moved in and out of foster care homes and residential placements.

Read
Aaron

Aaron’s Second Story

He woke up somewhere different each night, was skipping meals, and did not have space or privacy. Due to his tumultuous situation, Aaron dropped out of his classes.

Read
Cassie

Cassie’s Second Story

Our staff believed that there was more to Cassie's situation than met the eye, and that what she was experiencing was a result of an undiagnosed medical condition.

Read
Martha

Martha’s Second Story

She was soon coerced into prostitution and eventually became pregnant with her son.

Read
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Programs

  • Where We Work
  • Second Story for Teens in Crisis
  • Second Story for Young Mothers
  • Second Story for Homeless Youth
  • Second Story in the Community

24/7 Crisis Hotline:
Call 1-800-SAY-TEEN, or
Text “TEENHELP” to 855-11

TTY 711

Contact Our Programs

Administrative Office

For administrative matters only:

Mailing Address:

Second Story
PO Box 694
Dunn Loring, VA 22027

Phone: 703.506.9191
Fax: 703.992.0727
Contact Us

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Financial Information

CFC #41814 | CVC #200397

United Way #8893

Federal EIN: 54-0899463

Second Story is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.

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Need Help?

If you need help right away, our 24/7 hotline provides support and referrals to services in the DMV area.

Call 1-800-SAY-TEEN or text “TEENHELP” to 855-11

You can also learn more about our support for teens in crisis, youth experiencing homelessness, young mothers experiencing homelessness, or our community after-school programs and drop in centers and if you are eligible for our programs. You are also welcome to contact us directly.

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Contact Jade Leedham

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