Tony Weaver, a board member of Aspire After School Learning, told the Arlington County Board during public comment on May 10 that a recent federal decision cut his nonprofit’s AmeriCorps funding and immediately imperils the organization’s 17 AmeriCorps members who provide instruction to roughly 40 students in Arlington.

“As many of those students are reading two grade levels behind, they need help now, not next year,” Weaver said. “Upon successful completion of our program, these students are four times more likely to graduate high school.”

Board members responded directly during the post‑comment replies. Chair Tax Carantonis and other board members said staff from the Department of Parks and Recreation and from other county offices were already working with Aspire’s leadership to keep summer programs running and to maximize opportunities to employ AmeriCorps members through the summer. “We know that right now the programs, they can go until the end of the school year,” Carantonis said, adding staff are seeking ways to maintain summer programs and to address next‑year funding.

Other board members who spoke, including Vice Chair Matta Ferrante and Board Member Maureen Coffey, said they were personally engaged and have been in contact with Aspire leadership and other partners. County staff said they were exploring local funding bridges and operational options while Aspire pursues federal legal options related to the funding cut.

Weaver told the board the program serves predominantly low‑income students and relies on AmeriCorps volunteers for classroom instruction; he said Aspire is litigating the federal funding action. Board members said they will continue to coordinate with Parks and Recreation, the County Manager’s office and nonprofit partners to seek short‑term mitigation and to plan for the next school year.

The board did not take a formal vote on the matter at the May 10 meeting; members described staff follow‑up and continued engagement with Aspire leadership as the immediate next steps.