“I was the Executive Director of the Community House for 31 years. When I began, the center—then known as the Forest Hills Community House—was based in a community center in Forest Hills.
“I joined Queens Connect at a moment when I was trying to figure out what came next. After graduating in 2022, I knew I needed more experience and skills to build my resume and transition into adulthood with confidence.
“I first connected with QCH in the early 90s, not long after I moved to Forest Hills. I wasn’t looking for a full-time job. I just wanted to stay busy and be around people. A friend suggested I stop by the community center, and that visit turned into years of involvement.
"I grew up in the foster care system, moving from home to home while carrying a lot of trauma. School never felt safe. I often felt unheard and on my own. By the time I reached my teenage years, I knew I needed a fresh start—a place where I could breathe and rebuild.
A single mom doing it all — until she found a community that refused to let her struggle alone. This is Jenny’s story, and it highlights how QCH’s afterschool, housing, and food pantry support — all under one roof — helped her family find stability.
In 1983, a social work intern at our Forest Hills Community Center started hosting “Sunday Socials” for older adults who, due to mobility challenges, could no longer attend the senior center.
As you walk through Queens, you might spot one of QCH's Home Delivered Meals vehicles making its rounds—bringing nutritious meals and care to neighbors across the borough.
This feature from 2018 highlights one of the many young people whose lives have been shaped by Queens Community House’s afterschool program at The Young Women’s Leadership School (TYWLS).
"When I came to Queens from the South, I brought with me a love for the land and a belief that good food brings people together. I grew up farming — learning how to grow vegetables, share them with neighbors, and care for the earth.
For over 20 years, QCH has helped young people bridge the gap between high school and adulthood. To meet the needs of graduates navigating college, training, or the workforce, we created the College & Career Pathways program.
