SYEP YOUTH LEAD WITH PURPOSE IN POMONOK

This summer, the parking lot outside the Pomonok Community Center has been full of energy—and clean cars—thanks to an inspiring project led by participants from our Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP).

The Pomonok Car Wash isn’t just about making vehicles shine. It’s a youth-led effort to support the Pomonok Food Pantry, with every dollar earned going toward supplies that make food distribution more accessible and dignified for our neighbors.

From managing the workflow to greeting customers with a smile, these young leaders have turned a simple idea into a powerful community effort. It’s all part of QCH’s SYEP program, which gives Queens youth ages 14–24 hands-on work experience while encouraging civic engagement.

Through their hard work, creativity, and teamwork, Pomonok youth are showing what leadership in action looks like—and making a real impact, one car at a time.

YOUTH TAKE A STAND FOR EDUCATION EQUITY

This summer marks our third year as a partner in the Children’s Defense Fund’s Freedom Schools program, now serving approximately 300 students across three sites. The curriculum offers culturally relevant, high-quality reading experiences that foster a love of learning while helping children see themselves as active participants in a multiracial, multicultural society.

This year’s theme, Education for Civic Life and Work, emphasized the connection between literacy and civic engagement. Students didn’t just read about justice and leadership—they put those lessons into practice by participating in rallies to advocate for improvements in public education. In doing so, they embodied the Freedom School model’s core goal: nurturing a new generation of thoughtful, engaged community members.

EILEEN TURNS 100 AT KEW GARDENS COMMUNITY CENTER

On July 25, the Kew Gardens Community Center came alive with music, laughter, and heartfelt tributes as participants gathered to celebrate a beloved member — Eileen Sheehan — on her 100th birthday. A familiar face at the Center for over 20 years, Eileen has brought joy, warmth, and a sense of community to everyone around her. Whether dancing, crafting, or simply sharing stories, she’s been an inspiration to generations of members.

The celebration was a reflection of what makes the Kew Gardens Community Center so special. Established in 1996 through grassroots advocacy, the Center broke the mold of traditional senior programming by introducing a peer-led education model that empowered older adults to teach and learn together. Today, as a NYC Aging-funded older adult center, it continues to be a vibrant hub for connection, creativity, and community — with members like Eileen at its heart.

MEET YOUR NEIGHBOR:

TIMOTHY MITCHELL

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.

Rev. Dr. Timothy P. Mitchell (1930–2012) was a lifelong New Yorker whose legacy bridged local community building and the national civil rights movement. A founding shareholder of the Forest Hills Co-op, Mitchell played a pivotal role in shaping the early direction of both the Co-op and the Forest Hills Community House, where he served for many years on the board. He was an early and outspoken advocate for the creation of public housing in Forest Hills, helping to lay the groundwork for the compromise that ultimately led to the formation of the Community House.  

Mitchell served as pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Flushing for 47 years, becoming a towering figure in both local history and the national civil rights movement. A native son of Flushing, he graduated from Flushing High School, Queens College, and New York University Seminary. He also served in the Korean War before assuming leadership of Ebenezer Baptist Church in 1961.

Mitchell’s ministry was defined by an unshakable commitment to civil rights. He marched with the Albany Freedom Movement, was jailed alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and played a leading role in King’s Poor People’s Campaign in New York. He later supported Rev. Jesse Jackson’s presidential campaigns in the 1980s, and worked on David Dinkins’ successful 1989 mayoral campaign.

Even in his later years, Mitchell remained a fierce advocate, notably joining a hunger strike to protest the privatization of Elmhurst Hospital. Despite his national stature and powerful presence, those who knew him best describe him as warm, approachable, and deeply connected to everyday people. His enduring impact was clear at his standing-room-only funeral in 2012 and again in 2013, when the intersection of Prince Street and Northern Boulevard was co-named in his honor.  

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