"My parents actually met while volunteering at a community event, so being involved in the community has always felt natural to me. In high school, I coordinated volunteer opportunities for other students and spent my own time volunteering in a hospital and nursing home.
"I first learned about Queens Community House through my sister at a moment when my life felt like it was collapsing. I was behind on rent, facing eviction, and unsure where to turn.
"I joined QCH's Pomonok Older Adult Center after retiring from a lifelong career. With more free time and a longer life expectancy ahead, I often wondered how to spend my days meaningfully and joyfully.
Our final 50 for 50 feature spotlights Ben Thomases, CEO of Queens Community House, on what it means to build community—then, now, and what comes next.
"To understand how I first got connected to the Community House, you have to know what was happening in Forest Hills at the time. The development it was built to serve was at the center of a major conflict that drew national attention.
Throughout its history, Queens Community House has been deeply engaged in advancing community-driven change across the borough, from immigrant rights and financial justice to expanding access to parks and open space.
Queens Community House and Sunnyside Community Services have long been “sister” organizations in Queens—part of a broader network of settlement houses rooted in the belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential.
Queens Community House has proudly operated the Pomonok Community Center since 2006, serving the more than 4,000 residents who call the NYCHA Pomonok Houses development home.
