QCH HOSTS ANNUAL CAREER PANEL FOR QUEENS YOUTH

Every summer our Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) hosts a Career Panel, providing hundreds of youth participants with the opportunity to learn directly from leaders across government, media, finance, and the corporate sector. The event was held this month at Queens Borough Hall and brought together an impressive panel of changemakers who shared their career journeys and professional insights.  

This year's panelists included Queens Borough President Donovan Richards; NYC Department for the Aging Commissioner Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez; Stephanie Choudri, Chief Financial Officer at Arctic Glacier; Doug Hirschhorn, sports psychologist; CBS News Reporter Jennifer Bisram; HITN-TV CEO Mike Nieves; and Libert Sang, Senior Financial Services Director for Morgan Stanley.

The discussion — moderated by the SYEP youth — highlighted diverse career pathways, the importance of leadership, and the value of persistence and adaptability in today’s workforce.

POMONOK OLDER ADULTS VISIT

BROOKLYN GRANGE

This summer, participants from our Pomonok Older Adult Center (OAC) enjoyed a unique outing to Brooklyn Grange in Sunset Park, the world’s largest rooftop soil farm. Founded in 2010, Brooklyn Grange is a leader in sustainable urban farming and green roofing, transforming New York City rooftops into thriving gardens that produce fresh food and foster connections to the natural world.

During the visit, participants toured the expansive rooftop garden and took part in a hands-on honey workshop, learning about the vital role of bees in maintaining healthy ecosystems. The trip was both educational and refreshing, offering a chance to connect with nature while overlooking the city skyline.

The outing was part of our continued work to expand OAC programming and introduce the Center to middle-aged adults in the Pomonok community.

MEET YOUR NEIGHBOR:

RAMON SILVERIO JR.

QCH is celebrating 50 years of impact and community building across the borough! We're continuing our "50 for 50" series, honoring people – past and current –who embody the QCH spirit.

“I first walked into Queens Community House around 1998, when I was a teenager growing up in Queens. A friend from my high school dance club told me there might be space at the Evening Teen Center for us to practice. We didn’t have anywhere else to go, so we asked if we could use a classroom. The staff welcomed us in, and before long we were practicing regularly, building something that grew bigger than any of us expected.

What started with just a handful of us quickly turned into a thriving community. At first, we had one night in the gym each week, then two, and eventually three. Word spread quickly—even before social media—and dancers from all over New York City began coming through. Over time, people started coming from across the country and overseas to be part of what we had built. The teen center became known as the hub for breaking and youth culture in Queens.

I was a participant for a few years, and then, about five years later, I returned to QCH as an Activity Specialist. I worked with the dance program and also supported basketball and other youth activities. During those years, breaking became more than a hobby—it grew into a movement. We organized workshops, hosted competitions, invited guest teachers, and created a space where young people could express themselves. Many of those youth later became mentors, opened studios, or built careers in dance.

Today, I’m still deeply involved in the breaking community. I host, judge, and teach at competitions, and I continue mentoring the next generation. People sometimes call me an OG now, and I always credit QCH for giving me the platform to grow into that role.

What I loved most about QCH was the sense of belonging. The staff believed in us, trusted us, and gave us space to create. That trust allowed us to build something grassroots and powerful that impacted not just Queens, but the wider dance community. QCH shaped me—not only as a dancer, but as a person who values giving back.”

— Ramon Silverio Jr., aka Jiggz

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