The Center for Great Neighborhoods will begin a new pilot program called Covington Sparks for students at Sixth District Elementary School in Covington’s Eastside neighborhood. This is a program modeled after the Saturday Hoops program in Cincinnati and will offer activities like reading, arts, sports, coding, mindfulness, and more on Saturdays to the students who attend this school. This will be an 8-week pilot from July 6th – August 23rd, 9:30 am-1 pm.
This pilot program has been made possible through grant funding from Interact for Health with the goal of creating a safe place for the children in the Eastern Neighborhoods of Covington.
“In 2021, The Center pivoted the geographical focus of our work to the Eastern Neighborhoods of Covington – Eastside, Helentown, Austinburg, specifically. This was a strategic decision because we felt like the need for our efforts in the Westside was decreasing as many of our decades long goals were fulfilled, and the opportunities to support community development projects in the Eastern Neighborhoods was growing” states Shannon Ratterman, Executive Director.
We started that shift with a lot of resident engagement work, creating opportunities for us to get to know and listen to the people in these neighborhoods about what they saw as challenges they face and assets they embrace. During this engagement, the priority we heard most often was that the youth need access to more safe places and opportunities to learn, grow, and be supported outside of their home. Many of the adults in the neighborhood remember a time when they had places like the Northern Kentucky Community Center (now Lincoln Grant Scholar House) or the Duveneck Arts and Cultural Center (now vacant). These were safe places for kids and families to be together with their community, be surrounded by positive adult influences, and participate in activities that enriched their lives.
The Center for Great Neighborhoods is currently seeking interested community members to fill a variety of volunteer positions from coaching sports, assisting in the reading room, and teaching arts & crafts, coding, yoga & mindfulness, and a variety of other skills and activities. Interested individuals can reach out to Youth & Families Director, Jameela Salaah at jameela@greatneighborhoods.org
“We are excited to bring youth programming to Sixth District and are seeking more funding opportunities to make Covington Sparks a permanent program in the Eastern Neighborhoods as well as expand to other Covington Schools.”- Shannon Ratterman
More Information about The Center for Great Neighborhoods:
The Eastern Neighborhoods Vibrant Communities is a program of The Center for Great Neighborhoods (CGN). Located in Covington, KY, CGN catalyzes thriving communities by bringing residents together and supporting their efforts to shape the future of their neighborhoods. We’re committed to helping traditionally marginalized residents discover and develop their skills, find/use the resources they need, and connect with partners who share their passion for Covington.
Since 1976, CGN has worked alongside residents to foster vibrant communities by building on the City’s assets, focusing on community and youth leadership, economic development through arts and culture, financial education, and the redevelopment of vacant and blighted structures. As we move into our 46th year of community engagement and empowerment, we continue to challenge ourselves to make sure all the work we do is filtered through the lens of racial equity, and we are wholly committed to creating opportunities that break down barriers for residents to achieve an equitable life.
