Queens Gazette: QCH LTW, March for Safety, and Queens Transgender Day of Visibility

Queens Gazette: QCH March for Safety | March 2024: On March 21, Queens Community House (QCH), one of the borough’s largest social service organizations, stood alongside over 300 students, parents, organizations, and elected officials at the New York City Hall steps for a rally to preserve funding for the Learning to Work program. “QCH is proud to be standing with CAMBA, Good Shepherd Services NYC, St. Nick’s Alliance, and many others at City Hall urging the NYC Mayor and NYC Council to Save LTW,” said QCH Executive Director Ben Thomases. “During the rally, students and parents spoke out about the importance of LTW programs in providing academic and emotional support, counseling, career exploration and preparation, and paid internships that help students earn an income, gain professional experience, and test out potential career interests. LTW is crucial support for young adults.” NYC Public Advocate Jumaane Williams was represented at the rally by Lupe Hernandez in support of saving LTW.

On March 22 at 4pm, QCH was at PS 110Q (43-18 97th Place) in Corona for the Queens Children’s March for Street Safety, alongside many organizations and elected officials, including State Senator Jessica Ramos, Assemblymember Ron Kim, Queens parents and children, Families for Safe Streets, Transportation Alternatives, and more. “The situation is dire, particularly in Queens,” organizers said. “More than half of the children killed in the last two years were killed in Queens. Flushing, one of Queens’ most bustling neighborhoods, has seen the most pedestrian fatalities in the last decade of anywhere in New York City. In just a few short days, we’ve lost members of our communities in Bayside, East Elmhurst, Maspeth, and Sunnyside.”

“(Since just a few days ago), we’ve mourned the loss of cherished community members from Queens, including 8-year-old Bayron Palomino Arroyo, due to traffic violence,” said Assemblymember Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas. “I’m sponsoring Friday’s Emergency Queens Children’s March for Street Safety. Join us.”

On March 23 QCH was at Queens Borough Hall cosponsoring Queens Transgender Day of Visibility to honor and uplift our Transgender & Gender Non-Conforming siblings and community with a lively celebration. Queens Borough President Donovan Richards and Assemblymember Catalina Cruz were expected to be in attendance.

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