I needed a place where I could express myself freely without worrying about judgment from others, and that’s exactly what Access for Young Women (AFYW) has been for me.
I always understood the power of coaching and mentoring, first as a beneficiary of guidance, and now as a small business coach and mentor to the youth and women of all ages. As a student in public and private secondary schools, I learned the value of working for what you want in life.
On the month that we are reminded of Dr. King’s emphasis on service, Queens Community House highlights Brian Martens, one of our volunteers for QCH’s Friendly Visiting Program.
I lived in Queens for more than 23 years without legal status, and in all those years I didn’t go to my country once. In 2015, I got my green card, and now I use it to visit my friends and family twice each year.
Meet Carmen, a longtime neighbor of our Forest Hills Community Center. For years, Queens Community House provided her and her family with the resources they needed to enrich their lives.
I called QCH’s Immigration Services because I had no one else to turn to. Before, I was very shy to talk about my case, and all the time I was feeling scared. When I spoke to Carmen, I knew that Queens Community House was the right place for me. She helped me so much.
“When I transferred to Voyages South High School, it wasn’t all cupcakes and rainbows. There were times when I would wake up and think to myself, ‘Do I really need school?’ My environment was completely unstable.
