Center for Great Neighborhoods (CGN) engages residents in developing results-oriented, long-term solutions to community problems. The charity’s approach focuses on the following: promoting community participation to ensure broad civic involvement and a sense of ownership by residents; developing citizen leadership to increase residents’ ability to initiate and sustain community improvement efforts; establishing partnerships to involve diverse stakeholders in community development efforts and to leverage other resources; and stimulating volunteerism to allow Covington to benefit from the skills and talents of its residents and other individuals.
Neighborhood and Housing Initiatives Program equips residents with the training and resources they need to improve their neighborhoods. The charity helps residents create a vision for their neighborhood, develop a plan and work together to implement it. CGN provides technical assistance in the areas of leadership training, planning, research, project development, and implementation. Within the context of neighborhood plans CGN develops new and rehabilitated for sale housing. The charity manages the pre-development, and manages the construction and marketing process.
Youth Initiatives Program works to equip youth with skills necessary to become successful, productive citizens. The charity works closely with Covington Independent Public Schools to identify young people with leadership potential. Staff works with youth in leadership groups to increase their decision-making and problem-solving skills through projects that build their connections with other adults in the community. Programs include the Covington Youth Commission for youth grades 9-12, Covington Creates for Future (microenterprise program for youth ages 12-17), and Born Leaders of Covington Kentucky (BLOCK) for youth in grades 4 and 5.