Zone 126

05/29/2026

In celebration of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we are proud to honor the cultures, traditions, and flavors that keep us connected to home, family, and identity. 💙

This month, Michelle A. Makabali 🇵🇭🇺🇸, Kristina Olegario Loy 🇵🇭🇺🇸, and Dr. Anju J. Rupchandani 🇮🇩🇺🇸 are sharing a few of the sweet treats that bring back warm memories and celebrate the beauty of our heritage.

From the soft sweetness of Ensaimada and Ube Mamon to the colorful layers of Kue Lapis, these foods are more than desserts — they are reminders of family traditions, community, resilience, and love passed down through generations.

At Zone 126, we are proud to celebrate the richness and diversity of the communities that shape who we are and the work we do every day. 🌺✨

We hope you get a chance to enjoy these special treats and celebrate the cultures that make our communities so vibrant and strong.

05/28/2026

05/25/2026

Today, we pause to remember and honor the heroes who gave their lives in service to our country. Their courage and sacrifice will never be forgotten. Wishing everyone a meaningful and reflective Memorial Day. 🇺🇸

05/15/2026

Yesterday, the team at Zone 126 headed to City Hall Park in solidarity with more than 90 organizations alongside the  (Human Services Council)to raise awareness around NYC Council Wage Equity Bill 0452. ✊🏽

New York City’s human services sector is powered by nearly 600,000 individuals working every day to support children, families, older adults, and communities across the five boroughs. More than half of the workforce are women, with the sector predominantly made up of Black and Brown professionals who continue to serve on the frontlines of our city.

The rally created an important opportunity to stand together in solidarity with colleagues across the nonprofit and social service sector, while advocating for fair and equitable wages for the workforce that helps keep New York City moving forward.

At Zone 126, we know that investing in people who serve communities is investing in the future of our neighborhoods. 💙

05/11/2026

🥑🎉 Holy Guacamole! 🎉🥑

In celebration of Cinco de Mayo, students, families, and staff at PS 76Q and Long Island City High School came together for one of our favorite annual traditions, our Holy Guacamole Competition! 🌮💚

Cinco de Mayo recognizes the resilience, culture, and history connected to the Mexican victory at the Battle of Puebla, and over the years, this celebration has grown within our community into a joyful tradition centered around food, family engagement, culture, and connection. ✨🇲🇽

Participants mixed, mashed, seasoned, and competed to see who could create the BEST guacamole recipe! 👩🏽‍🍳👨🏽‍🍳🥑 From spicy creations to secret family recipes, the competition was full of creativity, laughter, and school spirit.

What started as a fun activity has officially become an annual staple within our organization, strengthening relationships, building school-community connections, and creating joyful memories that our students and families look forward to each year. 💫

Thank you to everyone who participated and helped make this year’s Holy Guacamole Celebration another amazing success! 💚🥑

05/08/2026

🎉🏙️ What an amazing day celebrating Queens Chamber of Commerce Queens Day! 💙

Earlier this week, we joined fellow nonprofit leaders, businesses, community advocates, and elected officials in celebrating everything that makes Queens so special ✨

Did you know? 👀
Queens is the largest borough in NYC, home to more than 2.4 million residents, two major airports ✈️, and is recognized as the 4th most populous county in the United States 🇺🇸

The day included meaningful meetings with elected representatives, important conversations about investing in our communities and young people, and the incredible opportunity to head up to the Senate Chamber Gallery to be recognized and hear remarks about the importance and impact of Queens. 🙌🏽

We also had the chance to connect with fellow businesses and nonprofits to talk about the importance of cradle-to-college-to-career work 📚➡️🎓➡️💼 and how student success directly impacts the long-term economic strength of our borough.

The evening wrapped up with a fantastic Cocktail Reception for Queens, by Queens 🍸✨ where new partnerships were formed, ideas were shared, and community connections continued to grow.

Queens is diverse. Queens is resilient. Queens is innovative. Most importantly… Queens is community 💙

05/06/2026

Last week, we proudly hosted our Drama PAWS Showcase, “Pandemonium,” at Long Island City High School 🎭💙

This powerful, student-written series brought to life the real experiences our young people are navigating at this stage in their lives, and how they are learning to work through them with honesty, courage, and creativity.

Through Creative Arts Therapy, our students are building constructive ways to resolve conflict, express their emotions, and find their voice in a supportive and safe environment. What we witnessed on that stage was more than a performance, it was growth, healing, and self-expression in action.

We are incredibly proud of our students for their vulnerability and strength, and grateful to our team for creating spaces where young people can be seen, heard, and supported every step of the way.

05/04/2026

Last week, our community showed up in full force for a vibrant Bulldog Brunch 🐾💙

Students, parents, teachers, elected official representatives, community leaders, and funders gathered in one space, building authentic connections, sharing powerful stories, and strengthening the partnerships that fuel our work every single day.

The energy in the room was undeniable. Conversations sparked new ideas, relationships deepened, and our shared commitment to young people was front and center. This is what it looks like when a community rallies together to ensure every student has the support, opportunities, and pathways they deserve.

We are deeply grateful to everyone who continues to stand alongside our students and families. Together, we are not just supporting success, we are shaping futures.

04/21/2026

This past weekend, the Zone 126 team was proud to be in Albany for the 40th Annual SOMOS Conference. 🇵🇷🇩🇴🇲🇽✨

We were especially honored that our Executive Director was invited to join a select group of Latino leaders under the Hispanic Federation umbrella to elevate the work of Zone 126, highlighting our efforts to combat chronic absenteeism and strengthen college and career readiness.

Throughout the weekend, our team engaged in impactful legislative workshops focused on:
• Strengthening the human services workforce
• Advancing income and asset building
• Expanding food access
• La Lucha
• Closing disparity gaps across Latino communities

This year’s theme, “Del Momento al Movimiento: Lead, Unite, Transform,” was reflected in every conversation and session.

DYK In Astoria and Long Island City, this work is deeply rooted in our community:
• 2 out of 3 students we serve are Hispanic/Latino
• 1 out of 4 students is living in temporary housing
• Nearly 3,000 students and families are served each year

We return energized and excited for what’s ahead as we continue to support and uplift our Latino community as a team. 💙

04/10/2026

15 years strong. 🎉💙

Zone 126 was built with a clear purpose: to show what is possible when a community invests deeply in its young people. From Astoria Houses to Ravenswood Houses to Queensbridge Houses, that commitment has never wavered.

What started as a bold idea has grown into a force across Northwestern Queens—reaching students, uplifting families, and building real pathways from cradle to college to career. 🚀

This is 15 years of showing up.
15 years of partnership.
15 years of doing the work that drives real change.
And we’re just getting started. ✨

Stay tuned all month long as we take a look back at 15 years of impact.

04/08/2026

Exciting news! 🎉✨ Zone 126 is proud to be a recent recipient of an Annabelle Foundation grant.

This funding will help launch our Youth CARE (Community Action for Responsive Engagement) Corps 💼🌱, where 10 students in temporary housing will receive stipends 💰 while gaining meaningful workforce development experience.

Participants will engage in hands-on learning through after-school tutoring 📚, supporting school-based food pantry operations 🥫, and building essential operational and leadership skills 🚀.

This initiative strengthens our commitment to a cradle to college to career pipeline 🎓➡️💼 for students in our community. 💙