Central Queens Y; A Place For You

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When you think of a “Y,” the first thing to come to your mind is most likely a gym, swimming pool, programs for toddlers and seniors, and maybe summer camp and after school programs.

What if we told you there’s a Y in your neighborhood that has all of those things, and so much more!

Located in the middle of Forest Hills (108th Street and 67th Avenue), just across the street from their friend Beth Gavriel Synagogue, the Central Queens YM & YWHA (CYQ) proudly offers award-winning programs for children of all ages and abilities, engaging classes for seniors, a state of the art gym and indoor swimming pool with lessons, groups and classes, dance, gymnastics and sports leagues for children, as well as Jewish cultural classes and events 

Except not only can you learn how to swim, speak another language, and increase your deadlift max at CQY, but you can also receive career help, learn new professional skills, and even find your next job with the help of their workforce programs.

Although the Y has been a beacon of resources in the borough of Queens since 1973, the last several years have led to them expanding their offerings. The recession of last decade had a profound impact on the borough, so with the help of UJA Federation of New York, CQY has taken strides to get Queens back on its feet. 

The CQY’s Queens Career Connect program meets multiple times a month, both in a group and individual setting, and extends job search assistance with a professional job developer, work readiness skills training such as interview and résumé writing, career and networking counseling, computer skills training and one-on-one case management. 

Interested in learning a new skill that translates into a dependable career? Through the FSET program, CQY offers certificate training courses for individuals who receive SNAP benefits. In a matter of months, you can become a Home Health Aide, Security Guard, Pharmacy Technician, Certified Nurse Aide, Dialysis Technician, Phlebotomist, or Food Handler, to name just a few offerings.

Technology has moved faster than people have been able to keep up with, and CQY helps people get caught up. Learn how to find your next job through LinkedIn, or for those of you who don’t speak computer, learn how to use the most basic programs in digital literacy classes. Whether you want to learn how to use a computer, set-up an email account, or find a job, these classes are geared to make you feel comfortable adapting to networking and job searching in the year 2018 and beyond.

For more advanced computer users, CQY recently launched a new Coding Academy, an accelerated course that teaches the basics of coding and allows participants to perfect one of the most rapidly growing computer skills. Coding and computers are just one of the many “languages” that are taught to adults looking for economic relief, as the Y also offers ESOL classes to improve reading, writing and speaking the English language.

While the programs listed above are offered for our adult community, CQY is also invested in helping get our community’s teenagers and young adults on track for successful careers. The CUNY Hillel Career Services Initiative provides on-campus career and graduate school guidance. Students receive individualized, one-on-one career guidance, group workshops on career exploration and job search topics, and large networking and career exploration events.

Year-round, CQY presents a wide-variety of employment opportunities to teenagers and college students. With the help of the NYC Department of Youth & Community Development, CQY offers Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP), which provides workshops on job readiness, career exploration, financial literacy and opportunities to continue educational and social growth. Participants obtain a paid summer internship for up to six weeks through July and August. These same participants are then eligible for the Work, Learn & Grow program during the school year, which offers similar opportunities. And don’t forget about their technology training initiative for young women ages 15 to 19!

Not in school? Not a problem! CQY has an Educational & Vocational Excellence program that provides educational, work-readiness, and vocational trainings for 16-24 year olds, leading to placements in many of the same positions as the FSET program. If you didn’t finish high school, CQY can also help you acquire your T.A.S.C. (the new GED) diploma with a Pre-High School Education program.

Serving over 15,000 people of all ages annually, CQY is more than a community-center, it’s at the heart of Queens’ Jewish community. They raise children, help feed hungry community members with a user-friendly digital food pantry, and strive to meet the ever changing needs of our city’s most diverse borough.

For more information on their programs and resources, please contact Ahuva Yelizarov, Community Outreach Liaison at 718-268-5011 ext. 185 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..