SUPPORTING OLDER ADULTS AHEAD OF

THE BLIZZARD

When a major blizzard was forecast to hit New York City, our Home Delivered Meals and Older Adult Services Case Management team moved quickly to prepare.

With emergency restrictions announced and streets set to close to non-essential traffic, the team coordinated an early distribution to ensure homebound older adults across Queens would have meals before the storm arrived. Supervisors worked closely with our caterers to secure Sunday morning deliveries. Case managers personally called participants to explain the schedule change and confirm they would be home. Drivers then delivered fresh, nutritious meals across the borough ahead of the snowfall.

The effort reflects the strength and coordination behind our Older Adult Services. Our case management team, specialized in aging services, provides in-home assessments, benefits and entitlements assistance, and care coordination. Through home-delivered meals and other essential supports, we help older adults remain safe, nourished, and connected — not only in times of crisis, but every day.

BLACK LOVE. BLACK HISTORY. BLACK JOY.

On February 13, our Black Love Event at the Pomonok Community Center brought together the spirit of Valentine’s Day and Black History Month in a celebration filled with culture, connection, and community pride.

As part of our annual Black History celebration, the evening honored the richness of the Black diaspora through live performances, soulful music, and powerful poetry that uplifted voices across generations. Each performance was a reminder that Black history is not only something we remember — it is something we continue to create, together.

Guests also took part in a vision board activity designed to inspire bold dreaming and intentional goal-setting. Tables filled with magazines, markers, and affirmations became spaces of reflection, joy, and shared aspiration.

The celebration extended to the dinner table, where community members enjoyed multicultural dishes representing African, Caribbean, and Latin American traditions — each plate a reflection of heritage, resilience, and pride.

Most meaningful of all was celebrating alongside Pomonok residents, whose energy and participation made the evening vibrant and deeply rooted in community. It was a joyful expression of love, legacy, and belonging.

INVESTING IN HER FUTURE: AFYW’S CAREER DEVELOPMENT DAY

On February 18, participants in our Access for Young Women (AFYW) program stepped inside one of the world’s leading financial institutions for our third annual Career Development Day at Goldman Sachs — an opportunity made possible in part through the support of QCH board member Vanessa Resnick.

The day was designed to broaden horizons and demystify the finance industry. Participants engaged in a dynamic panel discussion led by women across multiple divisions, gaining firsthand insight into diverse career journeys and the many pathways available within the field. A networking lunch and small-group conversations created space for thoughtful dialogue, mentorship, and candid questions, while a tour of the trading floor offered an exciting glimpse into the fast-paced environment of global finance.

Experiences like these are central to AFYW’s commitment to expanding access, building confidence, and equipping young women with the knowledge and networks they need to pursue ambitious goals.

When young women are given access to rooms where decisions are made, they begin to see themselves there — not just as guests, but as future leaders.

MEET YOUR NEIGHBOR:

IRMA RODRIGUEZ

After more than 30 years at QCH, former Executive Director Irma Rodriguez reflects on a way of working rooted in trust, belonging, and mutual responsibility—core to QCH’s vision today of an empowered community where all people are engaged, supported, and have a voice.

"I spent more than three decades at the Community House, from 1983 to 2015, serving as Associate Executive Director before becoming Executive Director. When I think about the Community House, what stays with me isn’t a single program or moment—it’s a way of working, and a belief in people. From the start, we trusted that the community knew what it needed. Our role was to listen, respond, and build alongside them.

That meant leading with need, not funding. Many of our strongest programs came directly from ideas shared by students, neighbors, and community members who believed change was possible when people worked together. People were always at the center of our work, including staff. We believed in growing our own. Curiosity and commitment mattered more than titles, and people stayed because the work was meaningful.

We were intentional about creating a place where people were not just receiving services, but forming relationships—with staff and with one another. The Community House was meant to be a space where people could see themselves as part of something larger, with both support and responsibility.

In the 1990s, as settlement houses returned to their social justice roots, the Community House embraced a “case to cause” approach. Community building wasn’t a department; it was everyone’s responsibility. Programs became pathways to connection and collective action.

Once staff began to see their work through that lens, participants did too. Seniors advocated for young people. Newcomers and longtime residents learned to stand together around shared concerns. Community wasn’t something we delivered—it was something people built together.

As Queens grew more diverse, we grew with it—expanding ESOL programs, immigration legal services, and creating space for honest conversation. The Community House was always clear about who it was for: everyone. No group had special privileges. Consistency built trust.

We didn’t shy away from differences or difficult conversations. We believed that real community meant making room for dialogue, disagreement, and learning—so people could move from living alongside one another to truly knowing one another.

What I cherish most is how the Community House feels when you walk through the door. People feel at home. They are supported, and they are invited to contribute.

That is community."

—Irma Rodriguez