CHILDREN RALLY TO END GUN VIOLENCE

This summer, we partnered with the Children's Defense Fund (CDF) to host the Freedom Schools program, providing children ages 8-10 in Queens with opportunities to make a difference in their communities. With gun violence being the number one cause of death for children, our program participants were eager to highlight the importance of gun control during the National Day of Social Action on July 19. QCH staff and children took a trip to City Hall Park and rallied for gun violence prevention! The children created their own signs for the rally, wrote letters to local and national leaders, and spoke out about the need for gun control for safer schools and communities. "QCH's partnership with CDF enhances the summer camp experience for the children by engaging them with both leadership and social action opportunities at an early age," said Executive Director Ben Thomases.

OUTDOOR SCREENING OF MARVEL FILM WAKANDA FOREVER

This summer in Pomonok, we’re building community through outdoor cinema! Our Teen program at the Pomonok Community Center has been exploring different activities that encourage community residents of all ages to connect. Through our Outdoor Movie Night Series, we are seeing the outdoor movie gatherings facilitate conversations between multiple generations and foster a sense of belonging among Pomonok neighbors. On July 20, we hosted a screening of Marvel's Wakanda Forever right outside of the Pomonok Community Center! Seniors from the Pomonok Older Adult Center joined participants from our Teen program and families in Pomonok to enjoy the classic movie together as a community.

QCH HOSTS CAREER PANELS AT QUEENS BOROUGH HALL

MEET YOUR NEIGHBOR: PATRICK DONNELLY

QCH is committed to fostering strong, stable, and self-sufficient families and communities throughout Queens. For this special edition of our Meet Your Neighbor series, we highlight Patrick Donnelly, a QCH volunteer who has been educating individuals and families across QCH sites about financial literacy.

"Having grown up in a small town in rural Pennsylvania, I never thought the sense of community that defined my upbringing could be replicated in a city like New York. However, upon moving to Forest Hills in early 2020 and getting involved with QCH shortly after, those expectations were quickly shattered. I’ve found that Forest Hills can just as easily feel like a small town where neighbors know each other, and locals pride themselves in being a part of the community. 

As an independent Financial Planner, my involvement with QCH started when I met the Director of Corporate Partnerships, Raul Flores at a Forest Hills Chamber of Commerce Meeting. Raul presented me with the opportunity to provide financial literacy workshops throughout the QCH network, which I quickly embraced. Now, nearly 12 workshops later, I’ve found my involvement to be one of the single most rewarding elements of my job.  

I never thought that this small town kid, now turned Queens business owner, could rediscover what it’s like to be a part of a thriving, tight-knit community so far from home. But that’s exactly what QCH offers to those who are willing to lend a helping hand."

Queens Community House provides individuals and families with the tools to enrich their lives and build healthy, inclusive communities.