Usanewsonline.com desk: Continuing his commitment to bring the programs and services of his office directly to families where they live, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. today announced the second iteration of “Borough Hall on Your Block” will be held in Western Queens from Tuesday, February 21 to Saturday, February 25.

The weeklong initiative will bring a litany of public programming to Long Island City, Astoria, Sunnyside and Woodside, including a town hall tailored specifically for NYCHA residents, a wider community town hall for all Western Queens families, employment and resource fairs, a senior services day, youth events, critical funding announcements and more.

“We’re all about building bridges and empowering families here in the Queens Borough President’s Office, and doing just that is at the heart of ‘Borough Hall on Your Block,’” said Borough President RICHARDS. “I’m thrilled to bring this important initiative to Western Queens next week as my office continues its mission to ensure that all our residents feel seen and heard, regardless of their background, ZIP code or socioeconomic status.”

Borough President Richards first announced the Borough Hall on Your Block initiative during his June 2022 State of the Borough address and successfully hosted the inaugural iteration of Borough Hall on Your Block in Southeast Queens in August 2022.

As with last year’s program, the goal of “Borough Hall on Your Block: Western Queens” is to directly connect area families with not only the government services they need, but the individualized attention they deserve from Borough President Richards and his staff.

The calendar of public events scheduled for “Borough Hall on Your Block: Western Queens,” subject to change, includes:

Tuesday, February 21

• Press conference announcing a combined $5 million in funding for capital improvements at the Noguchi Museum in Astoria and the Chocolate Factory Theater in Long Island City.
  • Time: 12pm
  • Location: Noguchi Museum, Isamu Noguchi Way (33^rd Road) between Vernon Boulevard and 10^th Street in Astoria.

• Self-Defense and Bystander Training Workshop, providing residents with the tools they need to keep themselves and those around them safe.
  • Time: 5:30pm to 8:30pm
  • Location: Culture Lab LIC, 5-25 46^th Avenue in Long Island City.

Wednesday, February 22

• Western Queens Jobs Recruitment Fair, connecting area job seekers with organizations looking to hire Queens residents.
  • Time: 1pm to 3pm
  • Location: LaGuardia Community College, 45-50 Van Damn Street in Long Island City
  • Co-sponsored by LaGuardia Community College and the Long Island City Partnership

• Older Adult Mental Health Awareness Day, providing seniors with important wellness information, physical and mental health services and more.
  • Time: 1pm to 4pm
  • Location: Sunnyside Community Services, 43-31 39^th Street in Sunnyside

• Western Queens NYCHA Town Hall for residents of the Queensbridge, Ravenswood, Woodside and Astoria houses, creating an open dialogue with city agencies on issues impacting public housing families.
  • Time: 6pm to 8pm
  • Location: Variety Boys and Girls Club of Queens, 21-12 30^th Road in Astoria.

Thursday, February 23

• Community Story Hour with the Borough President, featuring Borough President Richards reading to participating children, with QBPO staff on hand to share information about the office’s available services and resources.
  • Time: 12pm to 1pm.
  • Location: Long Island City branch of the Queens Public Library, 37-44 21^st Street in Long Island City.
  • Co-sponsored by the Queens Public Library.

• Western Queens Regional Town Hall, featuring a wide variety of city agencies for a community conversation about local quality-of-life issues.
  • Time: 6pm to 8pm.
  • Location: Long Island City YMCA, 32-23 Queens Boulevard in Long Island City.

Friday, February 24

• Press conference announcing $1.5 million in funding from Borough President Richards toward the construction of a new, 22-bed Intensive Care Unit at Mount Sinai Queens.
  • Time: 10am
  • Location: Mount Sinai Queens, Pavilion Lobby, 25-20 30^th Avenue in Astoria.

• Queens Youth Opportunity Fair, connecting Western Queens youth and young adults to resources around summer employment, educational programs, internship opportunities and more.
  • Time: 11am to 1pm
  • Location: Variety Boys and Girls Club of Queens, 21-12 30^th Road in Astoria.

Saturday, February 25

• Immigrant Resource Fair, connecting area residents with information on healthcare, legal services, financial assistance, job placement resources and more.
  • Time: 11am to 1:30pm
  • Location: Jacob A. Riis Neighborhood Settlement, 10-25 41^st Avenue in Long Island City.

Members of the public interested in attending one or more of the events outlined above can register by visiting www.queensbp.org/rsvp.

Members of the media who wish to attend either of the press conferences or any other public-facing event are asked to RSVP by emailing [email protected] or calling 718-286-2640. ( Press Release)