York College Joins Church City Fest 2025 to Strengthen Community Ties

By Nicholas Jones, Cheryl Morrison, and Dr. Rajendra Persaud

York College was pleased to be part of the vibrant Church City Fest 2025 on June 28, an inspiring community event organized by Church City in Jamaica, Queens. The street outside the church buzzed with the energy of hundreds of locals who gathered for a day of games, music, food, and camaraderie.

^{Caption: Collaborating at Church City Fest 2025 are, from left, Pastor Richard Ishmael of Church City, York College’s Cheryl Morrison, interim director of Financial Aid; Dr. Rajendra Persaud, assistant director of Admissions; and Nicholas Jones, executive director of Enrollment Management.}

York College was pleased to be part of the vibrant Church City Fest 2025 on June 28, an inspiring community event organized by Church City in Jamaica, Queens. The street outside the church buzzed with the energy of hundreds of locals who gathered for a day of games, music, food, and camaraderie.

Nicholas Jones, executive director of Enrollment Management; Cheryl Morrison, interim director of Financial Aid; and Dr. Rajendra Persaud, assistant director of Admissions, represented York College. The team offered information on academic programs, admissions, financial aid, and student support services and spent the day interacting with families, potential students, and local leaders.

Active Church City member Ms. Morrison's leadership and dedication to the community made it possible for York to attend the event.  Ms. Morrison stated, To me, this is more than just an event. This is my neighborhood. It means the world to me that York College is in the center of Jamaica, and I can interact with the people I live and worship with. Our neighborhoods are teeming with people searching for direction and opportunity. York might be that location. We were disseminating seeds of hope today, not merely distributing flyers. We see you, we were saying to people. This is where you belong.

Furthermore, Dr. Persaud echoed the sentiment by saying, Community engagement must be intentional. We are demonstrating that York College is more than just a structure on Guy R. Brewer Boulevard when we visit locations like Church City Fest. We actively participate in the communities we serve, fostering strong relationships with high school students, returning adults, and even parents who were considering sending their young children to college. These connections are not just strong, they are genuine, paving the way to higher education.

The block was alive with joy throughout the day thanks to the lively entertainment, food trucks, bounce houses, local vendors, and music. To uplift the next generation and strengthen families, Richard Ishmael, pastor of the church and a York College alum, discussed the importance of faith communities collaborating with educational institutions.

Additionally, Jones remarked, "Being here isn't just about recruiting. Presence is key. It's about York showing up in places where our future students worship, live, and pursue their goals. We appreciate Church City's cordial welcome and Cheryl's opening the door. Church City Fest 2025 was a powerful celebration of culture and community, a poignant reminder that access to higher education should never be denied. CUNY York College, with its roots in Southeast Queens, is dedicated to supporting its students and staff at every stage of their academic and professional journeys."