NURTURING TOMORROW'S LEADERS

On May 17, we hosted our 26th Annual Youth Leadership Conference, the signature event of our Access For Young Women (AFYW) program. Nearly 200 Queens neighbors gathered at the Forest Hills Community Center to celebrate and cultivate the next generation of women leaders.

The young women of AFYW took center stage, leading vital discussions and showcasing their remarkable talents through workshops they designed and facilitated entirely themselves. This year's conference addressed critical topics including Internet Safety and Workplace Protections, Youth Media Ownership & Safe Spaces, Breaking the Glass Ceiling, Menstruation Education, Immigrant Safety, Money Basics for Teens, and Restorative Justice.

Angelique Medley, Interim Chief Revenue Officer at IDG and valued QCH Board Member, delivered a powerful keynote address that inspired attendees throughout the day.

The conference featured exceptional performances by participants, remarks from graduating seniors, and a celebratory awards ceremony recognizing outstanding achievements.

"The growth we saw in these young women throughout the year was remarkable, and it's truly great seeing them lead this entire conference from start to finish with so much confidence," said Tabitha Gamonski, QCH Director of Student Support Services.

The AFYW program provides invaluable leadership opportunities to young women ages 11-18, fostering self-esteem, academic performance, and critical thinking skills. The Annual Youth Leadership Conference serves as the powerful culmination of this work, creating a platform where our participants educate their peers and raise awareness on issues that matter most to them.

YOUR VOICE, YOUR IMPACT:

QCH'S CONNECTION RESOURCE CENTER

Thanks to #ThePeoplesMoney, New York City’s citywide participatory budgeting process, one of this year's funded projects is QCH’s Connection Resource Center (CRC)!

This project is connecting youth, immigrants, low-income individuals, and people with disabilities in the Briarwood and Woodhaven neighborhoods to a variety of essential services in their community—including food assistance, housing, healthcare, employment, and more—through targeted outreach, direct referrals, and case management.

We're already seeing the impact—on May 17, we hosted a successful free Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) workshop where attendees learned about eligibility, application steps, and how QCH can assist them throughout the process.

We look forward to expanding our workshop offerings and connecting more neighbors to vital resources, made possible by your support and #ThePeoplesMoney.

QCH SPRING EVENT AT FOREST HILLS STADIUM

Please join QCH for its Celebrating Local Heroes event at the Forest Hills Stadium (1 Tennis Pl, Forest Hills) on June 12, 2025 at 6pm. We are pleased this year to be honoring our Borough President, Donovan Richards.

At this spectacular venue, neighbors and community stakeholders will meet for a fun evening on an iconic stage that was once welcomed music legends like Frank Sinatra, The Rolling Stones, and Bob Dylan.

Purchase your ticket here.

MEET YOUR NEIGHBOR:

ALEXIA MYERS-HINDS

QCH opened its doors in 1975, and this year we are excited to celebrate 50 years of impact and community building across the borough! We are continuing our "50 for 50" series, honoring people – past and current – who embody the QCH spirit. In this special edition of Meet Your Neighbor, meet Alexia Myers-Hinds, who participated in one of AFYW's first Youth Leadership Conferences.

"I was born and raised in South Jamaica, Queens. Growing up, I didn't see many positive programs for young women. When I was 12, I saw a Girls Inc. interview on TV, inspiring me to seek a leadership program. My mom found the AFYW program at QCH. The commute was long and costly, but I was determined.

My first experience was an overnight camping trip in summer 1993. I was hesitant, but the staff's care reassured my mom, and I had a great time. I participated in a summer video and photography program, and a theater project that taught independence. I loved the theater project so much that I became a teacher for younger girls the following summers—my first job! This fostered 'girl power,' teaching us leadership, critical thinking, and public speaking.

At 15, I joined AFYW for the school year, bringing friends from my neighborhood. We discussed societal challenges for women, and I'm proud to say I presented at one of their first youth-led conferences. I really appreciated all the QCH women staff leading a program that profoundly impacted me. They saw something in me and allowed me to shadow, ask questions, learn, and eventually lead.

After college, I returned to QCH in 2004 as a Youth Leadership Specialist, as part of AFYW's expansion to Jackson Heights. I loved how QCH's open, supportive model widened to other communities. I worked with AFYW until 2011, then directed QCH’s College Access and Success Program (CASP) until 2015, helping youth with attendance, dropout prevention, and college advisement.

Today, I'm Director of Jamaica Community Partnership under Rising Ground, working in my hometown. I connect families to resources, including QCH services. It's fulfilling to address the void I experienced as a teen, seeing QCH programs now in my neighborhood.

I remember QCH as my second home—a safe, open space that empowered me to learn, contribute, and understand community service. It instilled the 'blanket' of support that helps families thrive, a principle I apply in my work and as a mother today."



— Alexia Myers-Hinds

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