Queens Community House Announces Two New Associate Executive Directors

Queens Community House (QCH), one of the borough's largest social service organizations, has hired two new Associate Executive Directors (AEDs): Takiyah Weekes as AED for Community Services, and Anne Foerg as AED for Older Adult Services. Both AEDs are expected to lead and shape the overall vision and strategy of their respective divisions, as well as contribute to the strategic leadership of the multi-site, multi-service settlement house. QCH currently has 51 programs in 15 different neighborhoods across the borough, serving 25,000 people each year. 

"QCH is committed to ensuring all children, youth, families, and older adults are supported by our programs and services, so this change provides additional leadership that is essential as QCH continues to grow,” said QCH Executive Director Ben Thomases. “Takiyah and Anne are both seasoned leaders with significant experience in the human services sector. We are excited to have them bring their expertise and energy to our Executive Team.”

Weekes has over 15 years of experience in workforce development and human services. As the Director of Career Readiness for the NYC Department of Education’s (DOE) 135 CTE and Early College and Career Schools, she provided thought partnership, coaching, and professional development to school teams tasked with implementing Work-Based Learning and postsecondary preparation. She also supported capacity building to schools in the network, ensuring industry exposure and engagement for Black and Brown students, English-Language Learners, Student with Disabilities, and more. Prior to working at the DOE, Weekes served as Director of Youth Employment at Henry Street Settlement, and she continues to have a passion for the settlement house model in which QCH was founded. “My ultimate goal is to help prepare underserved communities with the skills to transition to self-sufficiency and connect them to the resources that will facilitate their growth along the way,” said Weekes. “I am particularly excited to be joining QCH’s Community Services team, where I will have the opportunity to support programs that are at the heart of the organization’s mission.”

Foerg is a licensed geriatric social worker who has focused her career on supporting the needs of older adults and the people who care for them.  Before joining QCH, she was the Director of Penn South Program for Seniors, the nation’s first Naturally Occurring Retirement Community Supportive Service Program (NORC-SSP). Prior to that, Foerg was the Director of Social Work at CaringKind, the Heart of Alzheimer’s Caregiving, supporting individuals with dementia and their families. She began her career in New York City settlement houses, leading case management programs at Hartley House and Lenox Hill Neighborhood House. “As a geriatric social worker for nearly two decades, I have been committed to supporting older adults successfully age in place in the communities they have built,” said Foerg. “I am thrilled to be joining QCH and bringing my experience to serve the older adults in my home borough of Queens. This also marks my return to the settlement house network, a model for community support and engagement of which I am very proud to be a part.”

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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