50 for 50: Kayhan & Tamiru: Connected to QCH—Just Decades Apart

Tamiru: I first learned about Queens Community House through Ben, the Executive Director. I’ve worked in health and social services, including homelessness and aging, and he thought my background might be helpful to the organization. I was already living in Queens and looking to get more involved locally. I liked the size of QCH—it felt like a place where I could make a real difference.

I told my wife, Kayhan, and she said, "That sounds familiar. Where’s it located?”

Kayhan: When he told me, I realized—"That used to be Forest Hills Community House! I went there as a kid!" I graduated from the pre-K program in the early ‘80s. I still have my certificate.

We called it "the Center," and it was an extension of our home. I could walk in anytime during open hours and no one ever asked, "What are you doing here?" It was completely welcoming. I played there, met friends there, came back for afterschool. My mom even took aerobics classes.

Tamiru: That personal connection sealed it. I joined the board, and it’s been an incredible experience—almost 10 years now. What I love is how QCH serves the full community: young people, older adults, immigrants. I’ve sat in on English and citizenship classes, and the stories are moving—people working multiple jobs and still showing up to learn. It reminded me of my father, an immigrant from Ethiopia, and his journey to citizenship.

Kayhan: QCH shaped my sense of what community should feel like. It taught me that every neighborhood should have a place where people feel safe, seen, and welcome.

Tamiru: It’s more important than ever. Everyone deserves a space where they aren’t questioned—where they feel secure.