TED: Tom DiBello - Executive Director, The Center for Great Neighborhoods
Tom and Catherine DiBello
Please read below for information on our speaker for the TED presentation on Sunday, January 23, at 11:20 a.m. – Tom DiBello, Executive Director of the Center for Great Neighborhoods. We look forward to an energetic group with lively discussion!!
Community starts with US and everything we do is Centered around this idea.
The Center is a catalyst for positive growth in Covington but our role is only one part of the equation. Our most important partner is YOU and the other residents of Covington.
How do we do it? We spark this growth by bringing people together, encouraging them to work with each other, and supporting their efforts to shape the future of their community.
Why do we do it? We are committed to helping people discover and develop their skills, find and use the resources they need, and discover partners who share their concern for the well-being of Covington.
What can you do? Our programs are all designed to help residents build on the great parts of Covington and to develop solutions to both individual and community issues. We can’t wait to meet you!
Our History
The Center began in 1976 when the Fourth Street Center and Downtown Neighborhood Center merged to become the Covington Community Center. In the late 1960s and early 1970s these two small neighborhood centers were created by separate churches in Covington. Both served the emergency needs of low income residents, provided recreation activities for youth and helped residents address community issues. The merger helped create a single, strong organization with a mission to serve those same needs.
From 1978 until 2000 we provided many of the same programs at our offices at 1008 Lee Street, on the west side of Covington. In the mid1990s our programs started to focus more heavily on community development efforts and building a stronger network of resident led neighborhood groups.
In 2000, a move to 1650 Russell Street helped expand our impact even more. Our new facility became a citywide meeting and training center to support residents’ efforts to improve their neighborhoods. In 2005, we changed our name to The Center for Great Neighborhoods of Covington to more clearly reflect our mission. In 2016, we moved to the Hellmann Creative Center, and while our location has changed, we remain committed to working with Covington neighborhoods to make them GREAT!