QCH GALA MARKS 50 YEARS OF SERVICE ACROSS QUEENS

On October 23, Queens Community House (QCH) celebrated 50 years of service, connection, and impact across Queens at our annual gala. Held at the Museum of the Moving Image, the event brought together community leaders, partners, and neighbors to honor both QCH’s origins and its ongoing mission. A special anniversary video highlighted the organization’s founding story—when visionary board members chose to transform a divisive community conflict into a lasting model of understanding, equity, and hope.

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards presented the evening’s honoree, Turner Construction Company, with the Community Impact Award, recognizing their leadership in major projects across Queens—including work at the borough’s airports and the construction of the new soccer stadium in Willets Point—as well as their generous philanthropic commitment to local communities.

QCH Chief Executive Officer Ben Thomases expressed gratitude to the staff, partners, and supporters who have shaped the organization over five decades. “Tonight we celebrate our past,” he said, “but we also look forward—to QCH’s continued role in creating opportunity and belonging for all who call Queens home.”



The gala raised more than $850,000 in support of QCH’s mission—ensuring that we can continue to provide critical programs and services to tens of thousands of Queens residents each year.

As we mark this golden anniversary, we extend heartfelt thanks to everyone who joined us and to our generous sponsors and supporters for making this unforgettable night possible. Together, we’re not just celebrating fifty years of impact—we’re building the foundation for the fifty years ahead.

🎉 Join Us for Our 50th Birthday Celebration!



We’re inviting neighbors, participants, staff, and friends—past and present—to join us on Saturday, November 15, 2PM–5PM at the Forest Hills Community Center (108-25 62nd Drive) for an afternoon of connection, memories, and celebration. Come be part of this milestone moment as we honor five decades of community and look ahead to the next fifty years. The event is free and open to all. RSVP by clicking here!

Help us celebrate by sending a short video message wishing QCH a happy anniversary and sharing what this community means to you. Your message will be part of a special video montage featured at our 50th Birthday Celebration. Record your message here by November 12!

QUEENS NEIGHBORS COME TOGETHER FOR MAYORAL ACTION

On October 19, 200 QCH staff participants and neighbors were part more than 1,700 New Yorkers at Colden Auditorium for Metro IAF’s Mayoral Action, standing alongside community partners as part of Queens Power.

It was an inspiring day of civic engagement and collective action, giving Queens residents the chance to make their voices heard on issues that shape daily life in our borough—affordable housing, mental health, NYCHA conditions, and immigrant protections.

Both candidates in attendance, Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, reaffirmed their commitment to taking bold action on these priorities, including:

🏘️ Public Land for Public Good: Building 50,000 affordable units each year for the next decade and dedicating city-owned land—such as the Aqueduct Racetrack and old Flushing Airport sites—to 100% affordable housing.

🔧 Fix NYCHA: Investing $100 million in critical repairs and enforcing accountability through an independent monitor.

🧠 Address the Mental Health Crisis: Investing $180 million to develop 10 crisis stabilization centers within a year.

🤝 Act on Community Issues: Directing city commissioners to work directly with Metro IAF affiliates and meeting with Metro IAF leadership immediately after the election to ensure continued action and safety for all New Yorkers.

We are proud to help amplify our communities’ voices and make sure they have a seat at the table in shaping New York City’s future.

MEET YOUR NEIGHBOR:

CLARA MONROE

“When I came to Queens from the South, I brought with me a love for the land and a belief that good food brings people together. I grew up farming — learning how to grow vegetables, share them with neighbors, and care for the earth.

In the mid-1980s, I settled in Pomonok. I saw families in the neighborhood working hard but struggling to find fresh, healthy food. In 2010, I started talking with Amy from QCH, who was then a director at the Pomonok Community Center. Together, we dreamed up a farmers market right here in the neighborhood.

We started small — a little garden behind PS 201Q, where kids could plant seeds and learn about food. It quickly grew into a true community market. Week by week, more neighbors joined in, helping organize and spreading the word until the whole community was part of it. On market days, the courtyard was full of laughter, learning, and good food.

For me, it was never just about vegetables. It was about health, pride, and connection. Having faced breast cancer myself, I knew how powerful it is to nourish your body and community. I loved teaching families how to cook the produce we sold — helping them discover that healthy meals could be joyful too.

Over time, the farmers market inspired the Pomonok Food Pantry, ensuring no family went hungry. The pantry still serves hundreds of households today, carrying forward the same spirit of care and community we first planted with the farmers market.

I’ve always believed that when you give back to your community, you help it grow stronger — and that’s the kind of growth that lasts for generations.”

— Clara Monroe