"I grew up with strong family values and the great examples of my mother and my brother. I’ve encountered the violence that any child may experience while living in a poor neighborhood in the capital of Venezuela.
My family has a long-term appreciation for Queens Community House's (QCH) presence in Forest Hills; our now teenaged daughter had been enrolled in the QCH Early Childhood Center.
Applying to college in 2018 was one of the best decisions of my life because it led me to intern for QCH's Case Management Department and meet Ms. Blanca Goris, the best role model in the social work field.
When I was in middle school, my mom told me about a program that she felt my cousin and I should join to gain more experience. I was skeptical at first, but after my first Access for Young Women (AFYW) session, I've been a participant since!
As I was exploring my options during COVID, one of my past supervisors contacted me about the Queens Connect Culinary Arts program at QCH. I was excited about the idea to expand my knowledge of cooking and the food industry.
In 1975, my family of four could not afford a two-bedroom apartment on our income, so we were so excited when we received a letter stating that we were eligible to live in the Forest Hills Coop.
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.
