Our final 50 for 50 feature spotlights Ben Thomases, CEO of Queens Community House, on what it means to build community—then, now, and what comes next.
"To understand how I first got connected to the Community House, you have to know what was happening in Forest Hills at the time. The development it was built to serve was at the center of a major conflict that drew national attention.
Throughout its history, Queens Community House has been deeply engaged in advancing community-driven change across the borough, from immigrant rights and financial justice to expanding access to parks and open space.
Queens Community House and Sunnyside Community Services have long been “sister” organizations in Queens—part of a broader network of settlement houses rooted in the belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential.
Queens Community House has proudly operated the Pomonok Community Center since 2006, serving the more than 4,000 residents who call the NYCHA Pomonok Houses development home.
In 1987, QCH launched its Case Management services with a simple but powerful goal: help older adults remain in their homes with dignity, safety, and connection.
From its earliest days, the Community House has treated social work interns not simply as students, but as full participants in its mission—people encouraged to observe closely, respond creatively, and act on what they see.
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.
In 2003, QCH launched its Immigration Services in response to profound changes and growing challenges facing immigrant communities, offering trusted legal assistance and advocacy rooted in dignity and access.
Queens Community House brinda a las personas y las familias las herramientas para enriquecer sus vidas y construir comunidades saludables e inclusivas.
