“Our family came to the United States from El Salvador. My sister and I came to QCH for the English classes; we wanted to communicate better with people. The way they teach us here is better than any other place I’ve been.
“I graduated from SUNY Old Westbury in 2016 with a degree in media and communications. I spent some time interning at a public relations firm on Long Island while applying for jobs. QCH’s opening for a Youth Employment Specialist instantly caught my attention.
“I started coming to QCH’s Forest Hills Senior Center 18 years ago. My wife and I had just moved into the Forest Hills Coop and we were looking for something to do, so we came here to play dominoes. Now we come all the time and we are members of the NORC program as well.
“I’m currently in the Agriculture Program at John Bowne High School, and my teacher told us about the Pomonok Center and what a great place it was. I met the Director of the Youth Food Justice program and we had such a great talk that I signed up to be a part of it.
“I first came in contact with QCH in 1985 when I was working for Cannon and I would come to service the office equipment here. In 1996, I decided to leave Cannon and start my own company.
“I came to the United States from Mexico when I was 17 years old. The whole country of Mexico is very poor, so we came to the U.S. to have a better life and a better education.
“I was an Assistant Principal at a school in Flushing where QCH had a robust after school program. When I accepted the Principal position at The Young Women’s Leadership School, I wanted to establish a similar relationship here.
“I grew up in the Pomonok Houses and when I was eligible to join a senior center, I knew I had to come to the Pomonok Senior Center. I’ve made so many friends and I love the trips we take. We have exercise classes and singing classes, and I feel like they just keep us going.
“I graduated from Hunter College in 2013 with my psychology degree. I played basketball for Hunter and afterwards I pursued a professional career in basketball in Asia and played for the Nepal national team.
“I attend the after school Youth Development Center at Newtown High School. I’m taking the guitar class, where we learn how to play and then perform songs for visitors who stop by.
Queens Community House brinda a las personas y las familias las herramientas para enriquecer sus vidas y construir comunidades saludables e inclusivas.
