YOUNG ADULTS RALLY TO #SAVELTW

QCH co-operates five high schools with the Dept. of Education under their Learning To Work (LTW) program. Through LTW, young adults who have struggled in the traditional high school setting get a second chance at earning a diploma, while getting the support they need to succeed: academics, emotional well-being, counseling, and career guidance. LTW even offers paid internships, letting students earn a paycheck and explore potential careers while going to school.

Each year, LTW helps prevent a drop-out crisis in NYC by helping thousands of young adults to graduate. This incredibly successful program, however, is in jeopardy. This June, the DOE is considering cutting up to 72% of LTW funding. This threatens the futures of 16,000 promising young adults across 66 Transfer High Schools and 19 Young Adult Borough Centers (YABCs).

With this vital program at risk, on March 21, over 300 students – current and former LTW participants – rallied at NYC City Hall with the message #SaveLTW. During the rally, many of our students spoke powerfully about how LTW has helped them overcome challenges and build successful futures.

"The incredible turnout of students at this rally is a testament to why LTW is so important to our youth," said Ivonne Torres, QCH Associate Executive Director for Young Adult Services. "Traditional high schools don't work for many young people. LTWs have allowed us to re-engage with these students, give them the support to graduate, and help them devise clear post-secondary plans. This is the time to double down on securing the future of our youth, rather than disinvesting in it."

LGBTQ+ PROGRAMS IMPACT QUEENS

On March 18, QCH's Queens Center for Gay Seniors hosted a Roundtable Discussion on the NYC Council LGBTQ+ Caucus's "Marsha & Sylvia Plan," a proposal for citywide policy and procedural changes that would help create a a more just, equitable city for LGBTQIA+ and TGNCNBI New Yorkers. Caucus members Tiffany Cabán, Erik Bottcher, Lynn Schulman, Shekar Krishnan, and Linda Lee were present, and participants broke up into groups to review and give feedback on nine issue areas: Arts & Culture; Education, Government Operations; Health; Housing & Homelessness; Older Adults; Public Safety; Sex Work; and Youth & Foster Care.  

On March 23, our Generation Q LGBTQ+ youth center helped to organize a "Queens Wide Trans Day of Visibility" at Queens Borough Hall (photo above). During the event, members of the trans, non-binary, and gender expansive community of all ages were able to build new connections and learn about local resources available for them and their peers.

IMPROVING INTERGENERATIONAL INITIATIVES NATIONWIDE

The Eisner Foundation is the only U.S. foundation exclusively focused on intergenerational solutions to society’s problems. Last year, they launched the Eisner Prize Fellowship program, which aims to uplift the next leaders working in the intergenerational space. On March 18, staff from our PS 149 Beacon Intergenerational Community Center were invited by the Foundation to present to the Fellows on doing "intergenerational work in multicultural communities." The panel also included staff from Sunnyside Community Services and United Neighborhood Houses, with who we've been collaborating on an initiative to deepen cross-generational programming in settlement houses.

MEET YOUR NEIGHBOR: IVELISSE PANIAGUA

QCH continually seeks to partner with those in the borough’s business, community, and health sectors who share the same vision for the Queens of the future. We believe that the borough does well when all within it are actively engaged, feel supported, and experience equal access to opportunities. In this special edition of our Meet Your Neighbor series, hear from Ivelisse Paniagua, Operations Manager at Ponce Bank.

“I work for Ponce Bank, a community Bank that supports community members often overlooked by larger banks. We work with all sorts of neighbors, from young folks who have never worked with a bank to small businesses with diverse financial needs. I have the pleasure of managing the Ponce Bank in Forest Hills, Queens. (Go Queens!)

QCH does so much important work within the neighborhood; my customers, neighbors, and folks who work at Ponce Bank are always talking about QCH. I have the pleasure of working with QCH to develop events and seminars that allow neighbors to learn about opportunities, supports, and tools to help them achieve their financial goals. What I love most about partnering with QCH is how much passion both Ponce Bank and QCH have for Queens! That commitment leads to so much good for our Queens neighbors. There’s nothing I love more than fostering opportunity. It’s truly a gift to be able to help community members shine and grow.”

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