April 2017
ACTION OF THE MONTH:
EARTH DAY CLEAN-UP


QCH is a member of the Community Advisory Board for the Flushing Meadows Corona Park Alliance.

On Earth Day (April 22nd), we will be participating in a park clean-up event from 
9 a.m.- 1 p.m.

If you'd like to volunteer, email Anna Dioguardi Moyano.

  After  School  Girls  Conquer  Robotics  
Participants in  our  After School Program at The Young Women's Leadership School (TYWLS)  in Jamaica were a top 20 finalist in the "Leggo My Lego" contest sponsored by the Department of Youth and Community Development. The contest challenged teams of middle schoolers to create their own programmable robots using Legos. There were more than 225 applicants from schools throughout the city. 

All of QCH's after school programs currently offer some type of STEM (Science Technology Engineering Math) activities. Robotics, computer coding, and game design are just some of the fun but educational ways through which students are engaged in STEM content.  "Many of the schools we work with  do not have sufficient STEM resources, so we try to bridge the gap with our after school programming," said Marcos Bayes, Deputy Director of Youth Development Centers. 
A Local  Champion Honored  
QCH's 5th annual Irma E. Rodriguez Queens Community Builder Award was awarded to  Lester Lin , founder of City Mission. 
In 2014, the city opened a family shelter in what had been the Pan American Hotel in Elmhurst, igniting angry protests from local residents. Moved by this controversy in his own community, but wanting to give a constructive response, Lin gathered friends and neighbors to throw a welcome party for the shelter families and later organized clothing and diapers drives, a fatherhood program, and tutoring for the shelter children. Incorporating their activities as a nonprofit organization, City Mission, they have expanded their reach into the community through resume writing workshops, health fairs, and projects with local high schools.

"For finding a way to reap positive change from conflict, and for inspiring his neighbors to do the same, QCH is proud to recognize Lester," said Ben Thomases, Executive Director. "He is truly making Queens a better place to live." The award was presented on April 6 at QCH's annual Celebrating Local Champions event.
A  Generous  Run  
 
QCH staff participated in the Generosity Queens 5K Run on April 2, raising almost $6,000 for the organization's programs. Nine non-profits participated in the event, which was co-sponsored by Generosity Series and the Queens Chamber of Commerce and took place in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. A big thank you to our passionate staff  and to all those who sponsored them.