oceanside cornerstone community center Archives

Three team members share their journeys from participant to staff—and sometimes both.

Anjolaife (AJ) Ahmed, Group Leader, Hammel Houses Cornerstone Community Center

Group photo of AJ and Cornerstone Community Center participants in costume for Halloween.

AJ, far left in the back row, and his partner Iyanla Walcott (also a group leader; in the center with green hair) with their group.

My journey with The Child Center of NY began in 2018 at the Hammel Houses Cornerstone Community Center. At that time, I joined Team Crate, a co-locator basketball team, and was first introduced to the center. The community center quickly became a second home for me, offering not only a safe space, but also an incredible facility where I could practice with my teams. This environment helped me excel in my high school basketball career and continues to support me as I pursue my college basketball career.

In 2021, I had the privilege of meeting Ms. Amanda Etienne, The Child Center’s Senior Vice President of Youth Development, at a local Carvel. I was inquiring about job opportunities when Ms. Etienne graciously took my information and referred me back to Ms. Krystle, who was the director of the program I attended with Team Crate. Coincidentally, Ms. Krystle had been instrumental in my initial introduction to the center. Despite it being the middle of the summer, I was quickly placed in a position at the center, and Ms. Krystle has supported me throughout my journey ever since.

Throughout my time working at The Child Center of NY, Ms. Krystle has worked with me to ensure that I could maintain my employment while balancing my collegiate studies, basketball schedule, and changing commitments. This flexibility has been invaluable, and I deeply appreciate the support.

This job has taught me not only the importance of professionalism and responsibility, but also crucial life lessons. Working with kids and teens has inspired me to continue my journey in youth development, as it has shown me the positive impact I can have on the lives of young people. I am truly grateful for the opportunities provided to me by The Child Center of NY and for the ongoing support I receive from the Hammel Houses Cornerstone community.

Dionte Davis, Group Leader, Hammel Houses Cornerstone Community Center

Dionte is sitting next to a fifth-grade participant. Dionte is laughing and the participant is smiling.

Dionte and Prince, now a seventh grader, en route to Splish Splash. The team takes fifth-grade participants on this trip every year to celebrate their graduation from the afterschool program.

My experience with The Child Center of NY Hammel Houses Cornerstone Community Center began when I was a young teen. I became an active participant at the center, particularly enjoying the open gym sessions in the evenings. I would attend almost every day. Over the years, I have had the privilege of getting to know the staff very well. I often talk about how short and young I was when I first met them, and now, as I look back, it’s clear how much the Cornerstone community has shaped my life.

Through my pre-teen and teenage years, I remained an active part of the community center, even through renovation and relocation stages. While attending open gym and playing basketball, I began to inquire about job opportunities at the center. Ms. Krystle, who had known me since I was a young boy, quickly agreed to offer me a position. Over the course of our interactions, she saw my potential and expressed confidence that I would be a great group leader, and that belief has stuck with me.

Working at the center has taught me invaluable lessons about working with kids, understanding their unique needs, and recognizing how each child learns differently. It has been a truly fun and rewarding experience, and every day I learn something new. My passion for working with kids has only grown, and I hope to continue contributing to the community. In fact, one day I hope to be in the same position as Ms. Krystle, leading and mentoring the next generation of young people.

I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities I have been given by The Child Center of NY, and I look forward to continuing this journey in making a positive impact on the lives of the children I work with.

Micha Simon, Office Manager, Oceanside Cornerstone Community Center

Prior to my employment with TCCNY, I was a client of the organization. My daughter participated in the afterschool and summer camp programs, and my sons were in the evening programs for the middle and high school kids. As for myself, I participated in the adult programs, including running the Saturday bingo activity and helping out at center events in whatever capacity I was needed. Though I am now an employee and my daughter is now in middle school, we are all still participants in the center.

Being a client family and from the neighborhood helps with my job in a positive way since I’m a familiar face to the staff, parents, and kids, and they are all familiar to me. My children have benefited tremendously from the programs they have participated in, developing strong friendships and social skills. I also have benefited from the program in the sense that I have made friends, enhanced my social and emotional skills, and found an outlet to volunteer and give back to my community.

The Oceanside Cornerstone Community Center means a great deal to my family. Growing up in the Caribbean, we have this saying, “It takes a village.” Now it means I get to be a part of somebody’s village as an Oceanside Cornerstone team member and community member. We are all there for each other.

Oceanside Cornerstone Community Center Youth Council President Ashely wearing the Rock in the Right Direction shirt designed by the youth council

Ashely rocks the “Rock in the Right Direction” shirt she and other youth council members designed. “We call it ‘Rock in the Right Direction’ because we’re from Far Rockaway,” Ashely explained, “and because the council is dedicated to supporting teenagers in the direction they want to go.”

My name is Ashely, and I’m a senior in high school. I’m also the president of the youth council at Oceanside Cornerstone Community Center. The role is about giving young people a safe place to have fun and make friends. It’s also so much more.

One day I was walking down the street, and Ms. Kia* said to me, “Ashely, I think you should come back with me to the center.” I had never been to the center before. But I’m always willing to do new things, and I’m not going to lie, I usually just would come home from school and do nothing. So I went to the center and met Ms. Nydriah** and Mr. Dennis*** and learned about the youth council. Ms. Nydriah explained that the youth council was an opportunity for teens to make decisions and develop leadership skills. We get to decide what’s important to us, what we want to do and learn about. It sounded beneficial, so I decided to join and serve as vice president of the council. That was in April, and now I’m president.

It’s a fun role. We have a say in the events we want to do and the trips we want to go on. We organized a couple events called Family Day. The whole community came together as one and celebrated like family. We also started a fundraiser for trips. We had a meeting about entrepreneurship to discuss things like, if you have a dollar, how can you use that dollar to make another dollar? We use the money to go on trips, like to RPM Raceway and Launch.

So the youth council is about having fun after school, but it’s also much more than that. It’s an opportunity for us to talk about what matters to us and make decisions that will move us forward in life, toward our own goals. Everyone needs a push in the right direction. What that direction looks like is different for everyone. As president of the youth council, I can help all of us teens find our own path—the one that’s best for us as individuals. Maybe it’s college; maybe it’s trade school. I want to talk about things that will benefit us in life. For high schoolers, we’re about to graduate, and we need to start thinking about this type of stuff before we get out to the real world.

Members of the youth council working on the shirts they designed.

Youth council members working on the “Rock in the Right Direction” shirts they designed.

That’s why one of my goals for this year is starting a podcast. We’ll invite teenagers to talk about career goals, the future, and our opinions on things that are important to us. It’s good to hear other people’s opinions on the issues affecting our world and learn about where other people stand and why. We had a meeting and came up with a lot of topics and learned that the center has the equipment for us. I’m ready for it to start! I have a lot I want to say, and I’m sure everybody else has a lot they want to say, and I’m excited to begin, because everyone should be able to have a voice.

Another goal I have is to promote the youth council to other students and try to get it bigger. Two weeks ago, we invited middle schoolers to listen in. They’ve come back to spend time at the center, which I think is great. The youth council is open only to high schoolers for now, but I told them, when they’re ready, the door is always open. For now, just the fact that they decide to come here to the center every day means a lot. They decide to come here and do something productive.

When Ms. Nydriah first started the youth council, I didn’t know anyone. Being on the council brought me closer to the people here and gave us a bond. I really enjoy being around them, even if we’re just playing a video game or hanging out in the game room. You can always meet new people here and make connections. Everyone deserves a safe space they can come to where they can make friends, because it’s not easy out there for us teenagers. I’m so glad this is a safe space for us to come if we need to talk. We are always here for them.

*Ms. Lakia Echols, community school program director, Rockaway Park High School for Environmental Sustainability

**Ms. Nydriah Collins, program coordinator, Oceanside Cornerstone Community Center

***Mr. Dennis Williams, security guard, Oceanside Cornerstone Community Center