KAPE Summer Program Returns As Families Continue Push For Long-Term Funding

HERNDON, VA — Cornerstones will offer an eight-week summer youth program for students in the Reston and Herndon area beginning July 6, even as families continue to question the future of one of the nonprofit's longtime after-school programs.

According to Margaret Anne Lara, executive vice president of Governance and Strategic Initiatives at Cornerstones, the nonprofit has partnered with Fairfax County's Department of Neighborhood and Community Services to provide a limited summer program at the Herndon Neighborhood Resource Center, 1086 Elden St., in Herndon. The program will serve students entering second through 12th grade from July 6 through Aug. 31, operating weekdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The announcement follows weeks of uncertainty over the future of the KAPE after-school program after Cornerstones said anticipated funding did not materialize.

Karen Pope, Cornerstones' director of community programs, said the agreement means children who were facing the loss of summer programming will now be able to return beginning July 6.

Families Continue To Seek Long-Term Solution

In a June 8 letter, a group of KAPE families wrote that Cornerstones did not submit a request for Community Child Care Program funding for KAPE and said the organization had expected Fairfax County to issue a request for proposals for after-school services funded through the Neighborhood and Community Investment Program.

According to the letter, county officials have said no such request for proposals was ever planned, while Cornerstones has characterized the situation as a misunderstanding that occurred during the tenure of a previous chief executive officer.

The letter also states that during a May 22 meeting with families, one Cornerstones representative initially said KAPE had to be funded entirely through county funding before another staff member clarified that the program could be supported through a combination of public and private funding sources.

Pope said she hopes families will continue advocating for a permanent solution while emphasizing that their efforts are intended to secure resources for children rather than criticize Cornerstones.

"It's not an attack on Cornerstones. It's not an attack on anyone else," Pope said. "It's saying, 'This is a gap that we have. This is a gap we need filled.'"

Summer Program Returns July 6

Lara said this summer's program, themed "Where the Wild Things Are," will combine literacy and math enrichment with social-emotional learning activities.

Students will receive free lunches and snacks through Aug. 21 through Cornerstones' partnership with Fairfax County's Food Access Program. Cornerstones case managers also will be available to connect families with additional support services.

Pope said the program typically serves about 48 to 54 students during the school year but expands during the summer, when it can accommodate as many as 70 students because of additional staffing and space.

The Summer Excite program serves students entering second through 12th grade together, a model Pope said was adopted after staff found older children often missed programming because they stayed home to care for younger siblings. Bringing all age groups together allows more families to participate while giving older students leadership opportunities.

Pope said older participants mentor younger students through activities such as weekly reading buddy sessions and by serving as team leaders during field days and other events.

"I'm excited that we get to do Summer Excite, be able to again just lift up these kiddos in this space," Pope said. "I don't know what the future holds, but I definitely believe this program is in this community for a reason."