Zone 126

We are an organization focused on creating positive impact in the communities within area codes 11101, 11102, and 11106 in Astoria and Long Island City.

We’re utilizing Collective Impact to ensure our children are supported from cradle to career. The Problem
More than 20,000 families are living in concentrated pockets of poverty in Astoria and Long Island City. Over 8,000 are children. Our children are living in generational poverty facing multiple environmental, social, and physical barriers to academic success. These children attend ten K-12th s

chools which are not only lacking the necessary resources to combat these barriers, but individual organizations have not had success in increasing academic achievement. Zone 126, as the backbone organization in a Collective Impact framework, coordinates a cross-sector effort with community organizations, public agencies, and private supporters who together provide the necessary programs for academic support, enrichment, health, nutrition, parent education, and youth development. We are coordinating improvements at every stage of a child’s life, from cradle to career. Local and national research-based programs operate in each of the ten schools within our Zone. Zone 126 also acts as the evaluator of the short-, mid-, and long-term impact of these programs and services on the academic achievement and socio-emotional gains of participating children and families. Every child can succeed with consistent, effective programs. Comprehensive cradle to career services are fundamental to ultimately breaking the cycle of poverty.

08/21/2026

Today, the Zone 126 family is celebrating a very special milestone: 15 years of Dr. Anju J. Rupchandani! 🎉

For 15 years, Dr. R. has grown alongside Zone 126, helping shape who we are, how we serve, and what it means to be deeply rooted in the Astoria and Long Island City communities.

When she joined Zone 126 in 2011, her work began with something that remains at the heart of our organization today: listening to the community.

She spent time in the neighborhood, built relationships with residents and families, connected with schools, and listened to what people wanted, desired, and dreamed for their children. Those conversations helped guide the design of the organization and what we have built together over the years.

As Zone 126 grew, so did Dr. R.’s leadership. In 2020, during the early days of the pandemic, she was asked to lead the organization and serve as Executive Director. During an incredibly uncertain time for our young people, families, schools, and communities, she stepped into the role with the same commitment that guided her work from the beginning: listen, respond, and remain deeply connected to the community.

For Dr. R., these 15 years have always been about more than building an organization. They have been about serving a community that is also part of her own story. As a product of the same Queens school district where we work today, her personal experiences, years in youth development, and commitment to young people have shaped the leader she has become and the work she continues to champion.

Through every stage of Zone 126’s journey, one thing has remained constant: her belief in our young people, our families, our schools, and the power of community.

Today, we celebrate 15 years of relationships built, lessons learned, challenges overcome, lives touched, and a commitment to Western Queens that has never wavered.

Happy Zone-Anniversary, Dr. R.! 🩵🩷🧡💚

Congratulations on 15 incredible years of service and leadership. Here’s to celebrating how far you and Zone 126 have come together and all that is still ahead!

06/30/2026

🎓 Congratulations to the Long Island City High School Class of 2026! 🎉

The Zone 126 team was honored to celebrate alongside our graduates, their families, and the entire Long Island City High School community during this incredible milestone.

For many of these young people, this moment represents years of perseverance and growth. We have had the privilege of walking alongside them through our cradle-to-college-and-career pipeline of support, from elementary school, to middle school, to high school. Watching them cross the stage and take the next step toward college, careers, military service, or other meaningful pathways is exactly why we do this work.

To the Class of 2026: Continue to dream boldly, lead with purpose, and never forget that your community is cheering you on every step of the way.

Congratulations, graduates! Your future is bright. 💙🎓

06/29/2026

As Caribbean American Heritage Month comes to a close, we’re celebrating the cultures, traditions, and stories that make our community stronger.

Thank you to Alexandra Toro 🇵🇷, Dr. Anju J. Rupchandani 🇵🇷🇹🇹, and Caroline Depestre 🇭🇹 for sharing what they love most about being Caribbean.

06/22/2026

🎉 Zone 126 is proud to share that our Executive Director, Dr. Anju J. Rupchandani, has been named a Finalist for the 2026 NYC Imagine Awards in the ALLIANT INSURANCE SERVICES, INC. Leadership Excellence Award category!

For more than 25 years, Dr. Rupchandani has dedicated her career to improving outcomes for children, youth, and families. A youth development professional who leads with lived experience, heart, research, and an unwavering commitment to elevating student, family, and community voice, she has spent her career building partnerships that create opportunities and strengthen communities.

Long before becoming Executive Director, Dr. Rupchandani helped shape Zone 126’s vision for collective impact in Astoria and Long Island City. Today, that vision continues through work focused on attendance improvement, mental health and wellness, youth development, family engagement, and creating pathways from cradle to college to career.

While this recognition honors Dr. Rupchandani’s leadership, it also reflects the dedication of the students, families, school partners, community stakeholders, funders, volunteers, Board members, and staff who make this work possible every day.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all of the outstanding finalists recognized by the 2026 NYC Imagine Awards. Together, your leadership and commitment are helping to strengthen communities across New York City.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Anju J. Rupchandani on this incredible achievement! 🎉💙

InTheZone

06/21/2026

This Father’s Day, we honor the dads, father figures, and caregivers who make a difference every day through their love, dedication, and support. Thank you for the positive impact you have on your families and our community.

Happy Father’s Day from Zone 126! 💙

06/19/2026

Today, we recognize Juneteenth—a day that honors freedom, resilience, and the enduring contributions of Black Americans. As we celebrate, we also reflect on the importance of building communities where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. ❤️🖤💚

06/08/2026

From and to Washington, D.C. 🇺🇸

Last week, Zone 126 had the privilege of joining nonprofit leaders, advocates, and changemakers representing more than 30 states and Puerto Rico 🇵🇷 at the 2nd Annual Encuentro Nacional Conference hosted by the Hispanic Federation.

Over four days, Hispanic Federation curated a powerful learning and advocacy experience that placed community leaders at the center of conversations about the issues shaping our communities and nation, including immigration, health care, technology, and artificial intelligence.

While Zone 126’s work is focused on education and economic mobility, we recognize that these issues are deeply interconnected. The challenges facing children, youth, and families do not exist in isolation, and neither can the solutions.

Across the communities we serve, 60.6% of students identify as Hispanic or Latino, and 23.3% are experiencing temporary housing. We know that housing instability increases the likelihood of chronic absenteeism, which is linked to lower academic achievement, higher dropout risk, and reduced economic mobility. Stabilizing attendance requires stabilizing lives and ensuring families have access to the resources and opportunities they need to thrive.

As our nation’s Latino population continues to grow, investing in pathways that support educational success, economic mobility, and overall well-being is critical to the future strength of our communities and our country.

A special highlight of the conference was celebrating Congresswoman Nydia “La Luchadora” Velázquez and her more than three decades of advocacy on behalf of working families, communities of color, and public housing residents. Her leadership has helped uplift communities across Queens and Brooklyn, including NYCHA Astoria Houses, Ravenswood Houses, and Queensbridge Houses.

We returned to Queens inspired by the conversations, energized by new partnerships, and reminded that meaningful change happens when leaders come together to learn, collaborate, advocate, and take action.

06/03/2026

🌈 Our annual PRIDE Speed Chat n’ Chew brought together students and professionals for an afternoon of meaningful conversations, connection, and community at Long Island City High School.

This year, students had the opportunity to hear from LGBTQIA+ professionals with backgrounds in art, health, and education, including both current and former Zone 126 staff members. Speakers shared their personal stories, career journeys, challenges, successes, and the importance of embracing who they are.

Thank you to our incredible speakers for showing our young people that there is no single path to success and that being your authentic self is something to be celebrated every step of the way. 💜✨

06/02/2026

2026 marks a major milestone as Zone 126 celebrates 15 years of partnerships that have created impact and strengthened our unwavering belief in the children, youth, and families of Astoria and Long Island City. ✨💙

What began as a vision rooted in community and collaboration has grown into a cradle-to-college-to-career movement grounded in collective impact, community schools, youth development, wellness, family engagement, and combating chronic absenteeism across Northwestern Queens.

Our anniversary celebration was filled with unforgettable moments, reflection, storytelling, laughter, and gratitude. To stand in a room surrounded by alumni, staffers, school leaders, partner organizations, supporters, elected officials, families, and community members was a powerful reminder that this work has always been bigger than any one individual or organization. It has always been about community.

We were deeply honored to receive proclamations from New York State Senator Michael Gianaris and New York State Senator Kristen Gonzalez recognizing Zone 126’s service, impact, and commitment to Queens communities.

Every student, every family, every staffer, every partner, and every supporter has helped transform this vision into reality.

The mission remains clear. The commitment remains strong. The best is still yet to come. 💙✨

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.

Address

3110 23rd Street, Ground Floor
New York, NY
11106

Telephone

+13478990614

Website

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3T67V6VJY4JUK?ref_=wl_share, http://zone126.org/

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