Queens Community House Will Dance To Save After School Programs

A bad situation for youths at the Queens Community House got worse earlier this month, when

The budget, among other cuts, called for the complete elimination of Out-of-School-Time funding at Forest Hills’ Queens Community House.

, the elimination of funds altogether is likely to leave 700 children and teens on the streets without a place to go after school.

Mike Zevon, the assistant director for teen services at the QCH, said the loss of funding will be devastating to area students who don’t have any other options.

“What’s being eliminated is our evening teen center, athletics program, our leadership programs, our counseling programs, our employment programs, and we serve over 700 young people from throughout Queens,” Zevon lamented.

Already, Queens Community House members have demonstrated in both Queens and Manhattan, attending marches at Borough Hall and Wall Street. But whereas lobbying councilmembers and local government leaders has worked in the past, this year’s financial realities has made after-school programs a lower priority than saving teacher’s jobs and keeping libraries and museums open.

“Right now there really is no back-up plan,” Zevon said. “There’s other places that young people can attend, but right now it’s all paid programs. … When [students] are out in the streets there is a better chance of getting into trouble. When they come here they have teachers, they have supervisors, they have a safe place where they can go.”

Zevo said that while cutting the OST programs in Forest Hills might save money in the short term, the loss of local resources for students can’t be measured financially. He said many of the students come for an after-school dance or basketball program, but come back for counseling and job-placement services they find out about while they’re there.

Coming up on June 5, the Queens Community House will host a breakdancing demonstration coupled with an open house that is designed to showcase to community members just how vital the youth services programs in the area are.

“If people came down and they saw what it is that we do, I think that would make a huge difference,” Zevon said. “ This community, we need to have places like this.”

The open house will take place at the Queens Community House on June 5, from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. There will be a $5 suggested donation.

In the meantime, Zevon encouraged residents interested in saving the programs to call 311 and ask to leave an opinion for the mayor.