YOUTH SUPPORTING NEIGHBORS IN NEED

QCH currently operates two youth employment programs out of Hillcrest High School: Work, Learn & Grow (WLG) and CareerReady. Young people are able to gain work experience while also learning and growing through career exploration and academic support. At Hillcrest, they are leading initiatives that strengthen communities in Queens. In January, the youth set up an onsite "Virtual Closet" that provides anyone in the community with free professional attire. The young adults also help operate a food pantry at the school (with food provided by our CBO partner Rising Ground). The youth are not only gaining valuable work experience, but also making a positive impact on their communities.

NY1 FEATURES OUR FRIENDLY VISITING

Our Friendly Visiting program pairs kindhearted individuals with homebound older adults in need of companionship. Through regular visits in our participants' own homes, these unique relationships quickly grow into lasting friendships. On January 20, NY1 highlighted the mutually beneficial connection between Friendly Visiting volunteer Adriana Rivera and Forest Hills resident Marta Koock. Click here to see the feature.

QCH TO HOST FREE SCREENINGS OF FILM: "BORDERLAND: THE LINE WITHIN"

QCH is proud to host two free screenings of the documentary film "Borderland: The Line Within". This impactful film portrays the challenges and complexities of the current US immigration system through the eyes of two families. We hope these screenings provide an opportunity to come together as a community, discuss this important current issue, and share resources and support.

The free screenings will be held:

• Thursday, January 30th at 6pm, QCH's Beacon Community Center at PS 149Q in Jackson Heights (93-11 34th Avenue)
• Tuesday, February 4th at 5pm, QCH's Administrative Office in Forest Hills (108-69 62nd Drive)

The screenings are open to the public and will be bilingual, accessible to both English and Spanish speaking audiences. Click here to RSVP.

MEET YOUR NEIGHBOR: ELIE VOLTAIRE

At our Community School sites, we aim to support student learning both inside and outside the classroom. In this special edition of Meet Your Neighbor, hear from Elie Voltaire, a student of QCH’s Community School at the International HS for Health Sciences.

"My father and I joined QCH at the rally for affordable housing at Creedmoor. I really enjoyed it. It felt like I was making a difference. I was very happy that my dad could participate. When I was younger, he was often working and couldn’t attend my school events, so I felt like this was healing my inner child. I know that he enjoyed it too.

Through QCH’s Community School program, I’ve been able to get more involved in my community. In addition to rallying for affordable housing, I volunteered in support of local families and I cleaned up our local park. I also participated in student workshops such as the idea generation sessions for The People’s Money, a process that allows all New Yorkers ages 11 and up to help decide how to spend part of the city’s budget.

QCH has inspired me to be more open to new opportunities and continue to be involved in my community."

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