QCH Joins Rally for Voting Rights of Immigrant New Yorkers
This month, QCH joined elected officials, community members, and the Our City Our Vote Coalition for the Rally for One Million Voices at Corona Plaza in Queens, New York. The rally was part of the push for municipal voting rights for immigrant New Yorkers.

The coalition and movement reached their goal of getting a supermajority of 34 members of the City Council to co-sponsor Introduction 1867. Now, members of the coalition are calling on the New York City Council to pass Introduction 1867, legislation that expands democracy in New York City so that green card holders and those authorized to work in the United States can vote in elections for city-level offices. Introduction 1867 would allow for residents of New York City (for at least 30 days), who are otherwise qualified to register under New York State election law, to vote in municipal elections.

Some of the speakers at the rally included Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Assembly Member Catalina Cruz, and Assembly Member Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas. "This isn't just a bill about voting, this is a bill about respect, respect for the community," said Assembly Member Cruz.

“New York City is a reflection of the many hard-working immigrants who contribute to the city’s economic, cultural, and social expansion," said QCH Executive Director Ben Thomases. "The time is now to pass Intro 1867 so that our city’s democracy reflects ALL New Yorkers, including the nearly one million immigrants who are currently have no say in our local elections.”

Click here for the Queens Daily Eagle coverage of this push for immigrant voting rights!
Pride Month Edition of Meet Your Neighbor: Jay, QCH Generation Q Program Participant
"I've never really been a social person. I was an outcast at school and at home, so I spent a lot of time indoors alone. As I was growing more into myself I began wanting to watch LGBTQ media and learn up on history.

Around this time I also got into comics. I'd binge comics like how people binge watch Netflix now. One web comic I would read every Monday was "What's Normal Anyway?". It followed Mel, a dorky college student during his transition. It was very lighthearted, and reading it was one of the highlights of my week.

One day, the author posted on the site that he was hosting a comic class at Generation Q on Tuesdays. As soon as I got the chance, I hopped on the train to Forest Hills, carrying a red folder filled with drawings, basically pitching my project to him (I was 15, sue me). After a while, I began going regularly and became more easygoing.

Thanks to a mixture of harassment, queerphobia I either saw or experienced, and good-old having my feelings disregarded, I used to just keep my mouth shut for my own safety and to keep the peace. However, I opened up over time because at Generation Q, people weren't judging me.

At Generation Q, I was just a kid who wouldn't shut up. They say queer folk tend to experience their teens in their 20s as their youth wasn't theirs to experience. This fact was very blatant; we'd be in our late teens and as chipper as middle schoolers. One of my favorite memories was of us playing in the snow outside of the old space. In that moment, we weren't queer teens in a grisly world but just goofy kids playing around.

We still had a grip on reality and with the aid of the Director we'd help with protests and other things to benefit the community. Generation Q Director Lindsey Duel got me in touch with both the CASP and The Animation Project, and I watched her make sure that little queer kids got to be kids. Thanks to her, I basically watched my childhood dream being brought to life before my eyes, seeing queer kids getting a childhood, and thanks to a comic about a dorky trans man and his cat, Dr. Skateboard, I got to be a kid.”
#JustPay Rally to Restore COLA and Achieve Pay Equity for the Essential Human Services Workforce!

This month, QCH joined human services workers, advocates, and New York City Council members demanding that the FY22 Adopted Budget invests in the essential human services workforce.

Human services workers have provided critical services to New Yorkers throughout the pandemic, all while being chronically underfunded and underpaid. This month's Zoom was over 900 strong for the #JustPay rally to restore Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) funding and achieve pay equity for the essential human services workforce.

“All human service workers should be compensated for their dedication, skill, and compassion they put into work each day," said Zenya Stewart, Activity Specialist at
QCH's Beacon school-based community center in Forest Hills. "This is crucial for many workers like myself that need financial stability.”

“The best thing Mayor can do for our city’s recovery is to invest in our human service organizations," said NYC Council Member Ben Kallos. "They cannot provide the services and jobs NYC needs if the City doesn't honor its financial commitments to them.”

Click here to view the full rally stream!
Helping Families in Need

The height of the pandemic may be over, but so many families are still struggling and could use your help. A donation from you today will connect families to resources that will help them stay afloat.

Click here to support families in need.
QCH YouthBuild Participants Build Emergency Food Pantry for Pomonok Community

Students of QCH's YouthBuild program recently finished building a food pantry in Pomonok as a food justice initiative.

Congresswoman Grace Meng, QCH Executive Director Ben Thomases, the YouthBuild program, and members of the Pomonok community were in attendance for the Grand Opening of the Pomonok Food Exchange Pantry.

"A 24/7 food pantry... Proud to have secured funding for this important @USDOL youth program in my district. Bravo! @QCHnyc", congresswoman Meng tweeted.

The pantry now serves as an emergency food service for the community!

Follow QCH's YouthBuild program on Instagram for updates on the work they're doing for the community!
QCH Rego Park Senior Center's Grab and Go Food Service

QCH senior centers are currently working toward resuming operations while maintaining a safe environment and adhering to COVID-19 requirements such as social distancing and mask wearing.

In the meantime, "Grab and Go" food service recently started at the Rego Park Senior Center! Members of the community lined up to enjoy fresh cooked meals and reconnect with the center's staff.
Queens Community House provides individuals and families with the tools to enrich their lives and build healthy, inclusive communities.