Queens Community House Partners with Council Member Francisco Moya to Host Their First-Ever Hispanic Heritage Fiesta

NEW YORK (October 2022) –  Queens Community House (QCH), one of the borough’s largest social service organizations, partnered with Council Member Francisco Moya and Empanadas Café for their first-ever Hispanic Heritage Fiesta on October 15.

Close to 500 people were in attendance for the event outside Council Member Moya’s Office in Corona, Queens. Families and individuals of all ages gathered for live performances, dancing, food, games, and activities.

“We closed out Hispanic Heritage Month with a fiesta in the streets,” said Council Member Moya. “Thank you to Queens Community House for helping to make this an event to remember.”

“It was great seeing so many Queens neighbors of all ages and backgrounds celebrating Hispanic Heritage together,” said QCH Executive Director Ben Thomases. “It speaks volumes about Queens as a borough that embraces diversity and inclusivity.”

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was also in attendance and spoke in support of QCH’s programs and services. “We know that when kids have an education, when there are plentiful employment opportunities, when there are community events that our neighbors can go to, that we can be a safe community,” said Rep. Ocasio-Cortez.

Back in March, Rep. Ocasio-Cortez announced that she secured funding for QCH to support their alternative high schools. The funding passed the House as part of an omnibus bill to keep the federal government funded and open. QCH was one of 10 community projects nominated by Rep. Ocasio-Cortez to serve New York’s 14th Congressional District.

Sponsors of the event included NYC Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, NYC Commission on Human Rights, Fidelis Care, NYC Department of Sanitation, NYC Parks, and Verizon, among others.

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Queens Community House (QCH) is a multi-service settlement house committed to serving the diverse neighborhoods of Queens. QCH serves more than 25,000 children, youth, adults, and older adults every year. Our mission is to provide individuals and families with the tools to enrich their lives and build healthy, inclusive communities. Through a broad network of programs operating out of 39 sites in 15 neighborhoods, we offer Queens residents a needed support system at every stage of life, helping them to develop the knowledge, confidence, and skills to change their lives for the better and become active participants in their larger community.

CONTACT:

Thomas Cruz

Director of Communications

Queens Community House

tcruz@qchnyc.org