Our latest Queens Person of the Week has dedicated decades to one non-profit serving those with special needs. NY1's Leisha Majtan introduces us.
Not many people can say they've worked at one place for decades.
But Charles Houston has 36 years under his belt at Queens Centers for Progress.
He runs the non-profit organization that serves thousands of children and adults with special needs.
What started out as just a job, quickly became a passion.
"I really had no prior experience knowing really or working with people with disabilities and I just found them to be very interesting people and wanted to do whatever I could to help them achieve their goals," said Charles Houston, NY1’s Queens Person of the Week.
But in a couple of weeks, he will pass the baton.
Houston is retiring.
Throughout his career, he's helped the organization grow.
There are now nine group homes, a children's center and more job training programs -- much of it thanks to his leadership.
"Each individual has their own goals, and their own things that they aspire to and their own potential. We really wanted to help every person reach that potential," added Houston.
Houston's legacy will be a lasting one -- not just on the community he serves but his successor says, also to his colleagues.
"He genuinely cares about the people we serve. He spends time out of the office walking around, people know him by name, he knows them by name. And the people respect him for that," said Terri Ross, the Director of Adult Services for Queens Centers for Progress.
The feeling is mutual.
Houston says his colleagues and those Q.C.P. serves have had much more of an impact on him.
"I just have been fortunate to be able to combine work with something which, at the end of the day, I can go home, or in this case, the end of the career and say I really felt as though I've spent my time doing something worthwhile," said Houston.
And so for dedicating his life to helping those with special needs thrive, Charles Houston is our Queens Person of the Week.