From pumpkin patch tractor rides, colorful face painting, farm animals, and firetrucks to salsa dancing, delicious cultural dishes, and Day of the Dead artwork, events throughout the month of October celebrating Lights On Afterschool in Covington did not disappoint.  In collaboration with community partners (like Kenton County Public Library, Covington Fire Department, and Benton Family Farm), each school and Community Learning Center (CLC) in Covington Independent Public Schools is keeping the lights on before ...

Did you know that nearly 1 in 4 students in the United States struggle to afford period products?  Period poverty is real and happening NOW. Lack of access to period products and menstrual health education perpetuates harmful taboos surrounding menstruation and forces people who menstruate to resort to unsafe and/or unhygienic methods to manage their periods. Enter, the Pink Link Project, an initiative to reduce a barrier that some students face every month during their menstrual cycle. The initiative provide...

We are delighted to announce Neena Volk as the new Chief Operations Officer at Partners for Change! With over a decade of experience in operations, program management, and marketing leadership, Neena excels in creating efficient processes, strengthening organizational structures, and driving strategic growth. A long-time supporter and former Board Chair, Neena not only brings her expertise, but also her deep commitment to our mission. Her track record in streamlining operations and designing impactful programs is a p...

Benedictol was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo and spent 16 years in a Ugandan refugee camp where he learned to navigate immense challenges with grace and determination.  Two years ago, Benedictol arrived in Covington, Kentucky, through the Kentucky Refugee Ministry and enrolled at Holmes High School. Despite the cultural and academic adjustments, Benedictol quickly distinguished himself as a dedicated and high-achieving student. Today, he is ranked 4th in his senior class and is taking four dual-credit...

Erin Tomer is an outgoing, energetic senior at Holmes High School. A dedicated student with a 3.3 weighted GPA, she has been involved in numerous school clubs and activities including marching band, art, creative writing, and music lessons. Excelling in school wasn’t always easy for Erin. She needed additional supports in math and English to keep her on track with her peers. Her grit and determination pushed her forward in spite of any obstacles that were placed in her way. Not only is Erin a dedicated s...

New Community Learning Center (CLC) coordinator Jennifer Simmons believes her work experience will help her keep students engaged and improving academically at Ninth District Elementary School. Simmons is STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics)-certified and has extensive training and experience with project-based learning. By incorporating those types of activities, she hopes to keep students motivated and increase the impacts of the afterschool program. “There are so many possibilities for the...

Mike Lewis sees the opportunity to work with students as the new Community Learning Center coordinator at Holmes Middle School as a dream job. “My professional dream for my entire life was always to work with adolescent students/youth and find a way to bridge the gap between community and education,” he said. Now that he has the opportunity, he looks forward to using what he’s learned in previous jobs to serve the Bulldog family, he said. A native of Newport, Lewis has worked in higher educati...

As summer winds down and we head into fall, Covington Partners has been busy gearing up for another academic school year.  The start of the year evokes a range of emotions; excitement, inspiration, wonder, and sometimes, a bit of anxiety. This, perhaps, is most true for some of our youngest students entering kindergarten. It is not uncommon for students beginning school for the first time to feel apprehensive about a new routine, new building, and new faces.  To help prepare our students for kindergarten...

At Covington Partners, we believe in the transformative power of mentoring to foster personal growth, community engagement, and academic success. This belief has led us to embrace critical mentoring theory, a framework that emphasizes the importance of context, power dynamics, and the unique experiences of each mentee. Our latest initiative, the creation of the CP Student Advisory Board, embodies this approach and represents a significant step forward in our commitment to student empowerment. Critical mentoring theor...

Part of Camp Covington (summer programming provided to Covington students in partnership with Covington Partners and Covington Independent Public Schools), Holmes High School students are enjoying a three-week camp focused on the arts this summer.  Taking place the last three weeks of June, the camp has been made available free of charge to Covington students. Students attend five hours per day, receive breakfast and lunch, and participate in a variety of art-related activities and projects. “This camp ...

MaryJane Reynolds’ passion for art is blossoming into a small business. The rising senior at Holmes High School is learning how to navigate the business world by determining what art sells best and how to connect with customers. She recently sold some of her artwork at Maifest in Covington after securing a booth in the Children’s Entrepreneur Market. MaryJane's father has always pushed her to find opportunities to share her artwork; he sent her a Facebook page about the children’s market. Holly S...

This month, Covington Partners celebrated the mentoring journeys of graduating mentees at the 2024 Senior Mentoring Celebration Breakfast. With over 250 matches districtwide, the program recognized 21 seniors and their volunteer mentors during the event. Matches include those participating in school-based, community-based, work-based, and peer mentoring. SCHOOL-BASED & COMMUNITY-BASED This Senior Class of 2024 is a group of intelligent, compassionate, talented young adults committed to creating a successful fu...

Foursomes are sold out, but you can still support the 14th ANNUAL COVINGTON PARTNERS GOLF OUTING by becoming a sponsor. The outing will take place on Monday, July 15, at Traditions Golf Club in Hebron, Kentucky. Various sponsorships are available, including hole sponsorships at only $350. Click HERE for remaining sponsorships and online purchase. If an invoice is needed, please contact Ashley McClure. Through your support, you will ensure more resources go to programs and services that help drive student achieveme...

The time is now to take advantage of the Endow Kentucky Tax Credit and help Covington Partners in the process. Longtime Northern Kentucky community leaders Chuck and Julie Geisen Scheper helped to spearhead the fund for Covington Partners with Horizon Community Funds in 2021, citing the nonprofit’s use of best practices and strong collaborations to strengthen student success.  The Endow Kentucky Tax Credit window is rapidly approaching. A total of $1 million is available in credits on July 1, but is sha...

Girls on the Run (GOTR) just finished its second season during afterschool programming in Covington, and the stories of success, hard work, and fostering community have tripled from the previous season. What started as one team at the Ninth District Elementary School Viking Zone Community Learning Center (CLC) during the 22/23 academic year, has now expanded to four elementary school teams for the 23/24 year. This success story has truly demonstrated the power of the community at Covington Independent Public Schools,...

Throughout the school year, Covington Police Department staff are mentors to elementary students at Glenn O. Swing Elementary School and Ninth District Elementary School through the Covington Partners Buddies with Badges mentoring program.  To celebrate the end of the school year, the Covington Police Department planned a special "Cops and Bobbers" fishing excursion for the students. This month, they took their student mentees to Lake Victoria in Latonia, Kentucky, where they spent the day fishing, having lunch,...

Covington Partners, along with organizations and school districts across the United States, recently celebrated Afterschool Professionals Appreciation Week to recognize, appreciate and advocate for those who work with young people during out-of-school hours. Research shows that skilled and knowledgeable program staff are the backbone of program quality and are key to desired positive youth outcomes. Programs run by skilled professionals result in increased social-emotional skills, school attendance, and academic perfor...

The You Matter Club at Holmes High School helps individuals develop compassion for themselves and others to show that everyone matters. This afterschool club through the Community Learning Center strives to create a better world filled with purpose, empathy, compassion and connection. After student members of the club brought up concerns of how emotional outbursts are handled during class time, the club was charged with executing a new project this school year. Led by Julie Wharton, mentoring coordinator for Coving...

Thanks to the Kenton County Public Library (KCPL), 6th grade students participating in the Holmes Middle School Bulldog Zone Community Learning Center have been taking to the mic, creating a podcast, The Barking Dog. The podcast is created through an afterschool enrichment club in partnership with the Covington branch of KCPL. Led by Tim Bredemeier, outreach programmer for KCPL, the club provides students the opportunity to have a voice about their journey as a middle school student.  Thus far, the students have ...

By: Elizabeth Mitchell Healy I worked in elementary schools for ten years until last year, when I moved away from the school setting and into a data role at Covington Partners. Upon leaving my school, I immediately missed the rewarding parts of my old work (being with students day to day) and began looking for ways to stay involved and provide support from outside of the building. The Mentoring Program through Covington Partners has always been a strong pillar for both the organization and the school district, and the...

This week, the first Holmes Campus Community Forum, a meeting to inform the community of funding allocated to Holmes Campus (Holmes Middle School and Holmes High School) from the Prichard Committee, as well as receive feedback from the community on how best to utilize the funds, was held. Funds will be used to expand and upgrade existing programs, while also exploring new opportunities for students and families. This work is possible through the Kentucky Community Schools Initiative, a comprehensive approach to educa...

Families recently joined staff at Sixth District Elementary School for an interactive game night sponsored by the Dolphin Zone Community Learning Center.  Throughout the evening, students and families visited several game stations focused on varying math concepts, including charting, subtraction, multiplication, and measurement. Students practiced counting on an abacus, charted their favorite foods and sports, utilized pop fidget toys for arithmetic operations, practiced patterns with tangrams, and much more. ...

Children gazed into colorful viewfinders with their mouths open, amazed at pictures of long-dead dinosaurs. The science exploration was part of Cincinnati Museum Center’s Programs on Wheels that made a stop recently at the John G. Carlisle Elementary School Community Learning Center in Covington. The museum staff also brought several plastic totes filled with dirt for the budding paleontologists to dig through to find bones and other fossils. Another station displayed tools, small-scale toy dinosaurs and the V...

In partnership with the BMX STEAM Program and USA BMX Foundation, students at the Holmes High School Community Learning Center are experiencing STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) through the lens of a BMX bike. The new enrichment club provides hands-on, project-based learning mixed with a strong physical fitness element and a whole lot of fun. Student-centered and student-led, a teacher helps facilitate the curriculum, which contains lessons focused on balanced and unbalanced forces, energy tran...

Last month, Stephen Smith, president of A Wired Family, LLC, presented a powerful program concerning the evolution of the mobile and broadband world at three Covington Community Learning Centers—Sixth District Elementary, Holmes Middle School, and Holmes High School.  Having been presented to over 500,000 students and adults, Smith discussed social media and technology as is relates to student communications, including inappropriate online behavior, bullying, and its impact on mental health. In separate pres...

Student voice plays an integral role in successful out-of-school time programming. Crochet Club at the Holmes Middle School Bulldog Zone Community Learning Center is no different.  This club started as a simple idea with students voicing an interest in embracing a new skill. Ms. Teanna Salter (known to students as Ms. T), is an avid crocheter, having made items such as hats and scarves, as well as jackets. With the interest of students and talent of Salter, Crochet Club was born. Salter is committed to teaching n...

Through the Community Learning Centers (CLC) in Covington, students at four elementary schools are participating in Girls on the Run, a fun, experience-based program that inspires participants to recognize their inner strength, increase their level of physical activity, imagine their possibilities, and confidently stand up for themselves and others.  The Viking Zone CLC at Ninth District had a group of student participants last year, and this year, the program has expanded to the Wildcat Club CLC at Glenn O. Swing...

Covington Partners is delighted to announce that Jarrett Spisak has recently been hired as the Community Schools Coordinator for the Holmes Campus through the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence.  Community schools are an evidence-based strategy to advance equity and reduce barriers to learning by providing the services needed to support student and family well-being. Through trusting relationships and well-coordinated supports, community schools ensure that students receive the health and social services a...

Coached by Emily Dill and Elizabeth Mitchell, the robotics team of third, fourth, and fifth grade students from Glenn O. Swing Elementary School’s Wildcat Club CLC participated in the FIRST LEGO League regional competition last month.  As participants of the competition and the program overall, students apply their STEM skills combined with critical thinking to work as a team, design and build a robot, present their robot design and innovation project to a panel of judges, and compete in a mission-based robo...

Families at Latonia Elementary School recently attended a health and wellness event, complete with dinner, conversation cards, and several community partners.  To start the evening, District Nutrition Services provided a salad and potato bar for families, while topic cards with conversation starters were provided on tables. Families conversed with one another before choosing two of the community partner sessions to attend. Partners included Northern Kentucky University, Art Equals, HealthPoint, and Pet Partne...

Art is the expression or application of human creativity and imagination. It captures ideas, conveys emotion, unpacks experiences, and reveals perspectives reflective of individual and collective circumstances. Art and creativity can provide a powerful outlet that helps individuals feel connected to one another and the world. Caregivers of the Cub Zone Community Learning Center students at John G. Carlisle Elementary School discovered this during a recent adult skill-building event in partnership with Art Equals. Ch...

Students in the Cardinal Club Community Learning Center at Latonia Elementary School wanted to share their talents and show gratitude to the Covington Independent Public School Board members in honor of School Board Recognition Month this January.  Student members of the afterschool What's Cooking Club made each board member a jar of caramel sauce, strawberry jam, and BBQ sauce, while students in the afterschool Perler Bead Club created a cardinal magnet for each board member.  A time when local communities ...

In an effort to align with the mission of Holmes High School (HHS), To guide all students to discover, pursue, and connect with their post-secondary dreams, Covington Partners (CP) and Covington Independent Public Schools (CIPS) have collaborated to implement and facilitate a work-based mentoring program.  Currently, over forty students and eight employer sites, including Allied Construction, Covington Fire Department, DBL Law, Salyers Group, and Taft Museum of Art, participate in the successful program. Through ...

The Covington Police Department in collaboration with Covington Partners is working to connect with the youth of Covington and lead the city to a better future. Last school year, the pilot project Buddies with Badges began at Glenn O. Swing Elementary School after Covington Police Sergeant Rachel White saw an email promoting mentoring in Covington and thought she could interest her co-workers as another way to be engaged with the community. Now, the project has expanded its reach to students at Ninth District Elem...

With a significant increase in the EL (English Learner) population in Covington, there is a growing need for small groups and interventions focused on academic needs of EL students. In addition to supports put in place during the school day, the Sixth District Elementary School Dolphin Zone CLC has made a discerned effort to provide this group of students with additional academic support beyond the 3:00 p.m. bell. Dolphin Zone is fortunate to have a bilingual program coordinator, Adriana Silva. In addition, the ...

What began as an idea from a student, is now Club MMA at the Holmes High School After-Hours Community Learning Center (CLC).  When Holly Simkonis, CLC coordinator at Holmes High School, was approached with the idea, she wasn’t sure what to expect, but enough students garnered interest for her to explore the idea. Simkonis researched possible partners, which led her to Joel Lippolis of Club MMA Mixed Martial Arts & Fitness in Campbell County, Kentucky.   Simkonis and Lippolis discussed obje...

For many of us, Thanksgiving is a holiday we look forward to, in which we celebrate all that we are grateful for, gather with loved ones, and eat plentifully with joyful abandon. For Holmes High School (HHS) junior Benedictol (Benny), this Thanksgiving was his first ever to do just that in the United States.  Born in the Goma region of the Congo and fleeing with his family at six months old to Uganda, Benny spent the first 16 years of his life surviving in the Nakivale Refugee Camp. According to Benny, “Li...

Want to invest in an organization that is student-focused and data driven? Want to support an organization that is efficient with funds and leverages resources? Want to be a part of the work that changes lives for students in Covington?  If you answered yes to any of those questions, you should join us as a Partner for Change. Through the monthly giving program, Partners for Change, you can turn your spare change into REAL change for the students of Covington. As a Partner for Change, you work side-by-side with u...

Kandice Williams, Miss Buffalo Trail Kentucky 2023, visited the John G. Carlisle Elementary School Cub Zone Community Learning Center to celebrate #LightsOnAfterschool, a nationwide rally showcasing all the ways afterschool programs serve communities.  Williams shared her experience with afterschool programs and encouraged program students to creatively share how the Cub Zone makes them shine. Students were provided paper light bulbs on which they could write, draw, and color their “Cub Zone shine.” St...

Educators, partners, and leadership from the 21st Century Community Learning Center programs in Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana, and West Virginia gathered this October for the 2023 21st Century Multi-State Conference. The conference embraced the theme All Hands On Deck…Anchoring Students for Success as participants spent three days on the Ohio River at the Galt House, learning, sharing, advocating, and collaborating.  Covington Partners played multiple roles, sending thirteen staff (program coordinators and t...

On a recent afternoon, a simple game of UNO helped students at Latonia Elementary School Cardinal Club Community Learning Center learn an unfamiliar language. The instructor, Kim Frank, had spent the last couple of months teaching the students basic words and phrases of American Sign Language (ASL). During the UNO game, the students used the signs for colors and numbers. Frank had about 15 students in her ASL club during the first quarter at the school’s 21st Century Community Learning Center.  As a colleg...

The Arboretum on Wheels (a mobile environmental education lab) from Boone County Arboretum visited the Viking Zone Community Learning Center at Ninth District Elementary School this week. Students learned the basic components of the food chain; reviewed terms like ecosystem, producers, herbivores, and decomposers; learned the basics of tree parts and their purpose; and discussed the connection of trees, humans, and other creatures. Students enjoyed seeing and feeling animal skins and furs on the mobile lab. They also ...

On Wednesday, October 4, 2023, Executive Director Stacie Strotman will lead a virtual discussion referencing Dr. Ruby K. Payne's A Framework for Understanding Poverty. Mentors often work with youth who are experiencing poverty, either directly or indirectly. This session will help volunteer mentors learn to assist student mentees with implementing cognitive strategies and actions to be successful in life. A Framework for Understanding Poverty teaches the hidden rules of economic class and spreads the message that, des...

Holly Simkonis, CLC coordinator at HHS, is bringing a bevy of new programming this school year to Holmes High School’s 21st Century Community Learning Center through a one-year infusion of federal money earmarked for out-of-school time programming. The funding supports addressing learning loss that occurred during closures and remote learning during the pandemic through the implementation of evidence-based interventions, such as summer programming, extended days, and comprehensive out-of-school time programming. ...

Did you know that one in five Kentucky women and girls between the ages of 18 and 44 live below the federal poverty line (United Health Foundation)? Yet, this age range is responsible for purchasing the most period products. By themselves, period products are expensive. Some US states have decided to make period products (like tampons and pads) tax-free; however, that is not yet the case in Kentucky. Currently, Kentucky is one of 26 states that still tax period supplies.  Knowing the extreme cost of period pr...

Can you put yourself in the shoes of a homeless seven-year-old student? Teachers, staff, and community partners recently participated in a poverty simulation led by Covington Partners. Taking place during Covington Schools' PD Academy, participants took on roles of members of over 20 families, all facing a variety of challenging, but typical, circumstances during a month-long poverty simulation. While each week of the month only lasted fifteen minutes during the simulation, participants embraced their roles--whether a...

To begin the new school year, the Covington Partners Mentoring Program led a social media campaign seeking 31 new volunteer mentors in the 31 days of August. We asked, and you listened. Thus far, 36 individuals have accepted the role of volunteer mentor, surpassing the goal of 31...but we have more students waiting for an adult role model. Can you help? Volunteer mentors have several program options from which to choose and can share their time and talents by getting involved in one (or more) of the mentoring program ...

Covington Partners is thrilled to be one of the organizations awarded a grant from Interact for Health during their first wave of community grants. As part of Interact for Health's strategic plan, they outlined several priority areas, including a strong focus on mental health, building community power, and investments in policy and systems change. Covington Partners received $115,000 from Interact for Health to support efforts to recruit diverse mentors and enhance mentor training around mental health and trauma. Th...

There is nothing like the feeling of a new school year and witnessing the smiling faces of students eager to get back to the classroom, visit with friends, and share a hug with their favorite teacher. We were thrilled to welcome back students to Covington Schools this past Monday, and along with many of our students, Covington Partners had a very busy summer!  Over 650 students attended Camp Covington. Covington Schools continues to make a large investment in our summer learning program. The financial...

Camp Covington 2023 was a triumph across the district; on average, serving over 600 students on a daily basis, with a greater number of students reached throughout summer at all sites, including the middle school, high school, alternative program, and five elementary schools. A multitude of tremendous staff, administration, and partners collaborated to provide engaging activities and learning opportunities throughout summer. This was no different at John G. Carlisle Elementary School. During Camp Covington 2023: Under...

Did you know that nearly 40% of at-risk youth report never having an adult mentor of any kind? That's just one reason the Covington Partners Mentoring Program is committed to working with the schools of Covington to provide positive adult mentors for students. During the month of August, the mentoring program is seeking 31 new volunteer mentors in 31 days. Mentors and students will be matched to begin meeting this fall after the start of the 23/24 school year. "I am a mentor because building up young individuals to rea...

Tamya Hayes Williams, incoming fifth grade student at John G. Carlisle Elementary School, did not hold back when presented with the #IcebreakerChallenge. She enjoys Camp Covington because "we keep it fun but still do school work." Very focused on her education, Tamya wants to become a therapist to help others. Michael Wesson, camp coordinator, says Tamya is a "positive and friendly leader who enjoys helping others." Learn about Tamya in the Q&A: Q. The zombie apocalypse is coming; who are three people y...

It was an expressive, fun, and colorful evening. John G. Carlisle Elementary School recently hosted a parent paint night coordinated by the FRC (Family Resource Center) and CLC (Community Learning Center). Parents were given an opportunity to learn to paint on canvas and provided step by step instructions by Quinn Battiste, owner of Battiste Imagery and instructor for programming provided by The Carnegie at Covington Independent Public Schools.  Adult participants chose to paint a landscape. Starting from a ...

Covington Partners’ newest staff members have worked with students in Ohio, helping them reach their personal and academic goals. Risa Watkins of Cincinnati will serve as the new community learning center coordinator for Holmes Middle School, and Holly Simkonis of Edgewood will be the coordinator for the community learning center at Holmes High School. Watkins recently earned her master’s degree in Higher Education Administration and Student Affairs from Kent State University. She previously worked as a re...

Camp Covington goes beyond elementary school. Covington Partners and Covington Independent Public Schools have collaborated for several years to provide enriching summer programming for students entering grades K-12 in Covington. This includes programs at all five elementary schools, the middle school, high school, and alternative program. This year's high school students had the chance to experience two different one-week camps centering around creative arts and leadership. In addition, the program provided extended ...

The 13th annual COVINGTON PARTNERS GOLF OUTING presented by Lisa and Norm Desmarais at Traditions Golf Club in Hebron, Kentucky will be held on Monday, July 17, 2023. Check-in begins at 10:30 AM with a noon shotgun start. Entry into the golf outing includes 18 holes of golf with cart, lunch, refreshments, dinner, giveaways, and a certificate good for an 18-hole return visit to Traditions Golf Club. In addition, an online silent auction presented by St. Elizabeth Healthcare will go live one week prior to the outing and...

When Kayla Gibson, a kindergarten teacher at Ninth District Elementary School, asked if she could bring a Girls on the Run team to the school, there was no way to anticipate the impact that decision was going to have on the participants, coaches, and the entire school.  Gibson had hopes of bringing a team to Ninth District since her first year working at the school. Her experience running cross country and building relationships with her coach had an influence on her that she hoped to replicate with Girls on the R...

The Covington Partners Mentoring Program is proud to honor and recognize fourteen Holmes High School graduating seniors; two of whom have been matched with their mentors for six years, two participated in the work-based mentoring program, and six served as peer mentors to freshman students through the Peer Advocacy Leader (PAL) program. These seniors are exemplary leaders who have been successful both in and outside of the classroom. They are Governor’s Scholars; top-performing athletes; artists; leaders in the...

Angela Walsh encourages her mentees’ interests – whether it's flags of other nations or learning sign language. Since being matched in January with two different children, she and her mentees have been busy learning more about each other and the world. Walsh, a retired teacher, taught Spanish, most recently at St. Joseph Elementary School in Crescent Springs. Even though she’s retired, Walsh knew she wanted to stay involved with children. That’s when she decided to become a mentor – servin...

After Covington Partners started the Pink Link Project in 2021, Nicole Nazzarine, counselor at John G. Carlisle Elementary School, started to think about other barriers girls may experience when they start their periods while in elementary school.  Without enough education, the start of menstruation in elementary school can be scary for girls. It is becoming more common for girls to start their periods at a younger age (the average range is age 10-15, but for some it can be as early as 8 years old).  The Ame...

Summer is just around the corner, which means for all Covington kids, the beloved Camp Covington is upon us. What is it that is so beloved about Camp Covington, not just to the students, but to caregivers and teachers as well? How is it that year after year we see hundreds of students set down their bikes and baseballs, wake up before 8 a.m., and make their way to school to learn? Ask anyone and the answer is easy: Camp Covington is fun.   To understand just what makes Camp Covington such a "fu...

Michael Anadio (mentor) and Fayth Griffin (10th grader) met each other six months ago through the Covington Partners Mentoring Program. Meeting weekly at Holmes High School, they have spent a lot of time learning about each other and were excited to learn more through this challenge. #GettingToKnowYou Q: What was the worst style choice you ever made? Michael: 90s baggy pants Fayth: Having a box haircut Q: What was your least favorite food as a child? Do you still hate it or do you love it now? Michael: Peas, and ...

Holmes High School students participating in the Covington Partners work-based mentoring program in partnership with DBL Law were provided the rare treat of an extensive sit-down meeting with Justice Michelle M. Keller, Supreme Court of Kentucky.  While discussing her prestigious educational and career path, Justice Keller encouraged students to take advantage of every opportunity they are provided, rely on the guidance of mentors, and to stay deeply focused and committed to everything that they do. Her personal &...

Chef JoEllen Hothem asks students what they taste in the food they are cooking. What spices or seasonings can they recognize? She also encourages them to make their own choices when cooking during the class, such as selecting ingredients for their personal omelets or deciding whether to bake a savory or a sweet muffin. Chef Hothem wants the students at Holmes High School to be involved in the process. The professional chef is an instructor in the high school’s Community Learning Center through a partnership with ...

K'miah is a third grade student at Glenn O. Swing Elementary School who participates in the Wildcat Club CLC and the Covington Partners Mentoring Program. K'miah's mentor has known her since kindergarten and became her mentor this school year. She says K'miah "is a ball of energy with her own very sweet and unique personality, and she brings so much fun and laughter to our mentoring match." #GettingToKnowYou Q. Would you rather visit a volcano or a rainforest? A. Rainforest –- you would get burned at a volcano! ...

Thank you to two Fidelity-based affinity groups, Fidelity Cares and the Fidelity Women's Leadership Group, for joining the Pink Link Project movement. The groups have donated to Pink Link, purchased items from the Amazon Wishlist, and held a product drive at Fidelity. An initiative to reduce a barrier that some students face every month during their menstrual cycle, the Pink Link Project provides period products for students who cannot afford or do not have access to purchase what is needed. In addition to period prod...

Covington Police Officer Rachel White and Police Lt. Jennifer Rudolph Colemire doff their service caps while they sit chatting with two students at Glenn O. Swing Elementary School. The little group calls itself the Queen Squad, and they have tiaras to prove it. Officer White and Lt. Rudolph Colemire are part of a new Covington Partners Mentoring Program group called Buddies with Badges. The police department already has a strong relationship with the school. Their annual activities have included Crafts with Cops as pa...

It's not just basketball. Lauren Grace, campus recruiter for Northwestern Mutual, was recruited to be a mentor in the Covington Partners Mentoring Program by colleague Trent Ledbetter during March Mentor Madness. Ledbetter, board member and mentor for Covington Partners, shared his experience with the program, and that was all Grace needed. She has always enjoyed serving as a role model and knew the program would be a "great way to continue making an impact." Grace said that she decided to become a mentor "to provide...

Recently, work-based mentoring through the Covington Partners Mentoring Program expanded to the Covington Fire Department. Students and mentors enjoyed meeting each other for the first time last month, participating in leadership building activities, taking a tour of the fire station, and trying on gear. While touring, students learned a great deal about the many aspects of a career as a firefighter and the necessary steps it takes to become one.  Students participating in the program are extremely enthusiastic a...

Close your eyes, clear your mind, and think of summer. Can you feel the sun beating down as you stare out onto the slightly dewed fairway, awaiting your turn to swing your driver on the tee box? You swing. The sound. It’s loud. It’s crisp. You’ve propelled the ball through the fresh air onto the green. The cool breeze smashes into your beaming face as you ride to your next stroke. Putter in hand, you think, ‘What would Jack Nicklaus do?’ The ending to your story is awaiting you at the 13t...

Did you know that 20% of girls have missed school because they didn't have period protection? Students should be focused on their education, not their periods, period. The Pink Link Project by Covington Partners is an initiative to reduce a barrier that some students face every month during their menstrual cycle. This project provides period products for students who cannot afford or do not have access to purchase what is needed. Without this support, some students in Covington are absent from school for several days e...

The children are pounding on drums, big smiles on their faces. The hands-on activity is fun for young students with loads of energy, but it is also helps them learn about the fundamentals of music. Latonia Elementary, Sixth District Elementary and John G. Carlisle Elementary have been offering afterschool music programming through a partnership with the Immanuel School of Music in Lakeside Park. This is the second year for the program at John G. Carlisle Elementary School.  Music is its own language,” sai...

Donna Haggard, RN, guest columnist Mentoring programs are becoming more and more popular in all types of organizations. Because these programs can be specialized to each specific type of organization, they are a critical part of the mentee’s success. The younger the mentee, the more powerful these programs become in shaping lives in a positive, productive manner. In addition, the relationships made through mentoring programs can often be long-lasting and beneficial for both the mentor and mentee.  Typic...

Did you know reading is a great stress reliever, is the fastest way to build vocabulary, and that reading just 20 minutes a day adds up to reading approximately 1,800,000 words per year? Each year, National Read Across America Day, a day established by the National Education Association (NEA) in 1998 to help get kids excited about reading, is celebrated on Dr. Seuss’ birthday. Like so many districts across America, on National Read Across America Day in Covington, students, teachers, parents, and community memb...

The Covington Partners Mentoring Program is searching for Holmes High School alumni interested in becoming mentors to current HHS students. Last month, we issued the Once A Bulldog Challenge to see which graduating class can “enroll” the most mentors at Holmes. The mentoring program currently has HHS alumni representation from as early as 1959 and up to 2022, with the Class of 1998 remaining in the lead with the most mentors. If you’d like to give back to your alma mater and use your time and t...

Chris Gastright (mentor) and Christian Gates (3rd grader) are Lunch Buddies at John G. Carlisle Elementary School. Chris looks forward to his weekly sessions with Christian where he tries to be a consistent, positive influence in his life. He says that “the opportunity to mentor is one of the best things” he gets to do. They have been matched for four months and happily accepted the #IceBreakerChallenge.  Q: You have your own late night talk show. Who do you invite as your first guest? Christian: My...

Covington Partners Mentoring Program staff attended the 13th annual National Mentoring Summit, the mentoring movement's biggest event of the year, last week in Washington, D.C. Convened by MENTOR, the summit is an opportunity for mentoring practitioners, researchers, philanthropic investors, youth leaders, government and civic leaders, and affiliates from across the country to unite under the shared goal of driving positive change for young people. Attendees of the Bridging Opportunities through Mentoring Summit lea...

This month, the CP Board of Directors and staff came together for an all-day retreat focusing on the past, present, and future of Covington Partners. Board members and staff heard from Dr. Janice Wilkerson, founder of Covington Partners. Wilkerson expressed how impressed she is with the work of the organization since its inception in 1999. While she never dreamed Covington Partners would play such a large role in the support of students and families in Covington over 20 years after the first coalition meeting, her dre...

Covington Partners has two new board members—one with many years advocating for children’s health, education and development and the other with deep family roots in education. Rosanne Nields, who is vice president of government relations and planning for St. Elizabeth Healthcare, has served on various boards that address early childhood health, education and development over her 35-year tenure at the hospital organization. The involvement has helped her understand the importance of organizations like Coving...

Through art projects, quilts and oral histories, Covington students and residents are uncovering and preserving the African American experience in the city. Recently, students in the afterschool program at Glenn O. Swing Elementary School used what they learned to create their own comic shorts to highlight everyday heroes.  "They learned about different heroes (fictional and non-fictional), created their own superhero and a mini comic strip of them overcoming an obstacle,” said Jameela Salaah, program manag...

Julie Wharton, long-time CLC coordinator at Holmes High School and new mentoring coordinator, was recently awarded the Most Valuable Kids/MVK Staff Superstar award. Nominated by colleague Kate Andriacco, Wharton was recognized with a flower arrangement, gift card, certificate, and many kudos.  Andriacco states, “A staunch advocate of the proverbial ‘underdog,’ Ms. Wharton works tirelessly to promote educational achievement among the youth of Covington.” Wharton continuously strives to ensu...

Karla Rodriguez is a new mentoring coordinator working with the Covington Partners Mentoring Program through a partnership with Esperanza Latino Center. Welcome, Karla! Q. What is your most used emoji? A. The cowboy hat emoji! He looks like such a happy little guy. Q. What was the worst haircut you ever had? A. The bangs I'm still currently trying to grow out. Mistakes were made. Q. Who was your childhood actor/actress crush? A. Ron Pearlman, and still is to this day! Q. Does your current car have a name? What is...

This fall, Glenn O. Swing Elementary School’s Wildcat Club CLC welcomed Coach Barbara Bobbitt for her final year as leader of the robotics team. Along with co-lead Emily Dill, Bobbitt and the team of fourth and fifth grade students participated in the FIRST LEGO League regional competition on Saturday, December 10.  As participants of the competition and the program overall, students apply their STEM skills combined with critical thinking to work as a team, design and build a robot, present to a panel of jud...

The newest member of Covington Partners’ team, Zakkiyyah Abdulrahim, started helping others at an early age. She served as a tutor at the Northern Kentucky Community Center and as an assistant to the center’s former Executive Director Bill Martin. She is a graduate of Holmes High School and majored in human services and counseling. Ms. Abdulrahim is the newest community learning center coordinator at Ninth District Elementary School. She has numerous certifications, including trauma responsive care, and pr...

As a senior at Holmes High School, Tkira Tolliver has served as an outstanding student leader among her peers, in addition to maintaining her rigorous academic program through the International Baccalaureate program at HHS. She has served as a student representative to the Covington Partners Board of Directors, a peer mentor through the Peer Advocacy Leader (PAL) program, and participated as a mentee through work-based mentoring with Kenton County Public Library. Additionally, Tkira has consistently volunteered by tut...

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” This is a question often asked to students. The responses are generally limited to what they are exposed to, the jobs of their parents, close family, or perhaps neighbors. Through the Cub Zone Community Learning Center at John G. Carlisle Elementary School, students are taking part in career visits from local businesses during afterschool hours. Michael Wesson, the program coordinator at JGC, is leading the initiative, with the goal of exposing students to as many...

At Holmes High School, a group of students are finding their voice, making new friends and learning how they can have an impact. Julie Wharton, the coordinator of the Community Learning Center at Holmes, started the You Matter Club for students who sometimes have a hard time fitting in. It also is a club for those who simply like to help others. “The hope is to create a better world filled with purpose, empathy, compassion, and connection - showing that we all matter,” Wharton said. Two students told othe...

What's better than shopping? Free shopping in a boutique.  Earlier this month, Master Provisions, Inspired Fashion, I Have Wings Breast Cancer Foundation, and Covington Partners came together to provide a one-of-a-kind, free shopping experience for the students of Holmes High School. Clothes, shoes, and accessories were collected, sorted, and steamed throughout October, and Inspired Fashion (boutique on Madison Avenue in Covington) was flipped for a night of fun and free shopping for over 50 young ladies at Holm...

Meet Keyla. She is a fourth grade student and new to Sixth District Elementary School. Adriana Silva, coordinator of Dolphin Zone CLC at Sixth, says Keyla is friendly to everyone and is a wonderful big sister. Q. What is your favorite emoji? A. A happy face 😊 Q. If you would be invisible for a day, what would you do?     A. Pretend to be a spy and follow a friend to see what they do. Q. If you had to eat one food everyday for the rest of your life, what would it be? A. Pizza. Not everyday...

The fourth and fifth grade students in the Viking Zone Community Learning Center at Ninth District Elementary School are participating in a new book club. Ms. Jackson, a fourth grade teacher at Ninth District, is leading the book club with the 1994 novel Tears of a Tiger. The book was written by author Sharon Draper and tells the story of bad teenage decisions and the consequences that follow. Ms. Jackson intentionally picked a book that she felt would have scenarios and conversations between characters in which s...

Glam Happy Hour was a roaring success, with bundles of new and gently preloved clothing, shoes, and accessories donated to the Fit of the Day. Now, Covington Partners, I Have Wings Breast Cancer Foundation, Inspired Fashion, and Master Provisions are teaming together with volunteers to sort the clothing and flip the boutique for the ultimate shopping experience for young ladies at Holmes High School.  The campaign is inspired by a conversation between Megan Jackson of Master Provisions and her mentee through the...

In America today, 7.6 million children are alone and unsupervised after school. In Covington, we are working to decrease this number by keeping kids safe, helping working families, and inspiring learning through our seven Community Learning Centers. With a Community Learning Center in each elementary school, middle school, and high school in Covington, students are able to participate in academic and enrichment activities before and after school, as well as during the summer months, in a safe and welcoming environmen...

Meet Gunner. He is a fifth grade student at Latonia Elementary who is a "great helper" in Cardinal Club CLC. Tara Murray, coordinator of Cardinal Club, says Gunner has a great sense of humor and always brightens her day, as well as the day of all students and staff. Learn more about Gunner below. Q. What do you enjoy most about Cardinal Club? A. Getting homework done, special activities, going to gym, and being outside Q. What is your favorite video game? A. Call of Duty Q. What is one thing you wish you ...

Terry O'Brien faces his opponents one by one and asks them to take a few swings. Then he advises them on how they can do it better – hit harder or with more accuracy. O’Brien is teaching students at Holmes Middle School how to box. The initial classes involve seeing how the students punch and how they stand. O’Brien, founder of Shamrock Boxing Gym in Covington, is a former professional boxer and a Cincinnati Golden Gloves Champion. For decades he has coached fighters and trained individuals at his ...

BLINK is on its way to Covington, and Covington Partners is ready. Through a collaboration with Life Learning Center, Renaissance Covington, AGNT, and Amity Events, and sponsorship provided by First Financial Bank, something is brewing at 2 West Pike Street.  Visit us anytime from 7-10 p.m., Thursday through Saturday (October 13-15) during BLINK. If you're "UP" for the challenge, stop by and see us. You won't be disappointed.

Covington Partners, I Have Wings Breast Cancer Foundation, Inspired Fashion, and Master Provisions have teamed up to support the young ladies of Holmes High School. The campaign is inspired by a conversation between Megan Jackson of Master Provisions and her mentee through the Covington Partners Mentoring Program. Jackson's mentee spoke to Jackson about her need and access to appropriate work and school clothing. The conversation led Jackson to bring together Covington Partners, I Have Wings, Inspired Fashion, and Ma...

Want to invest in an organization that is student-focused and data driven? Want to support an organization that is efficient with funds and leverages resources? Want to be a part of the work that changes lives for students in Covington?  If you answered yes to any of those questions, you should join us as a Partner for Change. Covington Partners has launched a new monthly giving program, Partners for Change. Through this program, you can turn your spare change into REAL change for the students of Covington. As ...

Covington Partners’ new executive board members know the impact the organization can have on students, some first hand. Trent Ledbetter of Covington is mentoring a freshman at Holmes High School. One week last year, the student said he expected to miss an upcoming school day because “my mom is just running out of gas and can’t drive us.” Ledbetter felt the boy already had a lot of things to juggle, including the stress of getting ready for high school and life as a teen in general. “Now...

During the month of August, the Covington Partners Mentoring Program has led a social media campaign seeking 31 new volunteer mentors in 31 days. Volunteer mentors have several program options from which to choose and can share their time and talents by getting involved in one (or more) of the mentoring program options, including working with students from elementary through high school, meeting students during lunch or after school, or becoming a community-based mentoring match. With a small commitment of only up to...

Written by Melissa McDonald, World Affairs Council  This summer, the World Affairs Council of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky partnered with the Center for Great Neighborhoods to provide cultural awareness experiences for students at all five Covington elementary schools during Camp Covington, a five-week summer learning program provided by Covington Partners and Covington Independent Public Schools. Students learned from the World Affairs Council's Global Guide Fellow, Enock Sadiki. Enock is a local high schoo...

To ring in the new school year, Covington Partners has teamed up with the Covington Fire Department to help provide fire prevention and safety education for students, as well as help to identify families that may be in need of smoke alarms.  Assistant Fire Chief of Prevention and Education Greg Salmons contacted Covington Partners to collaborate in offering the Sound Off program to students in Covington Independent Public Schools. This national program will be provided to students participating in the afterschoo...

This morning during arrival for the first day of school in Covington, there were grins from ear to ear on faces of students as they ran to greet their new classroom teacher and visit with past teachers and staff.  It's been a difficult couple of years, to say the least, but Covington Partners and Covington Independent Public Schools are ready for what the 22/23 school year will bring.  We may face some challenges as we continue to move towards a greater sense of normalcy for our school community, but...

What do you get when you put a group of students in the Ninth District Elementary School Makerspace during Camp Covington? Creativity. Generosity. Shirts. And more shirts.  During the five-week summer program, Camp Covington 2022: Summer Safari, and with the help of their leader, Ms. Smith, a group of fifth grade students at Ninth District Elementary School decided to pose a design contest to the rest of the student body. Students wanted to provide a thank-you gift to the staff at Ninth District for providing th...

The rain halted, the clouds parted, and the sun beat down as golfers played to win at Traditions Golf Club during the 12th annual golf outing. A near sell-out, this year's golf outing, held on Monday, July 18, 2022 was a success (a hole in one, if you will). Thank you to all foursomes, sponsors, and silent auction participants for making our 12th annual outing the most successful yet. Congratulations to Covington Independent Public Schools for bringing home the big win and to Payroll Partners for their second plac...

Did you know that nearly 40% of at-risk youth report never having an adult mentor of any kind? That's just one reason the Covington Partners Mentoring Program is committed to working with the schools of Covington to provide positive adult mentors for students. During the month of August, the mentoring program is seeking 31 new volunteer mentors in 31 days. Mentors and students will be matched to begin meeting this fall. "I am a mentor because building up young individuals to realize their strengths and connecting wit...

Eight sites. Sixteen programs and camps. Nearly 900 students…thus far. Through the collaboration of Covington Partners and Covington Independent Public Schools, students in Covington are learning this summer through enrichment opportunities, academic time with certified teachers, programming from community partners, health and wellness lessons, social-emotional activities with counselors, and field trips—all while having fun! One program geared toward supporting new EL (English Learner) students was a succ...

Are you #OnParWithPartners? Registration for the 12th annual Covington Partners Golf Outing presented by Wiseway Supply, DBL Law, and St. Elizabeth Healthcare closes Friday, July 1. The outing will take place on Monday, July 18, 2022 at Traditions Golf Club in Hebron, KY. Check-in will begin at 10:30 a.m. for a 12 p.m. shotgun start. Entry into the golf outing includes 18 holes of golf with cart, lunch, refreshments, dinner, giveaways, and a certificate good for an 18-hole return visit to Traditions Golf Club. A fours...

The time is now to take advantage of the Endow Kentucky Tax Credit and help Covington Partners in the process.   Longtime Northern Kentucky community leaders Chuck and Julie Geisen Scheper helped to spearhead the fund for Covington Partners with Horizon Community Funds last year, citing the nonprofit’s use of best practices and strong collaborations to strengthen student success.  Endow Kentucky Tax Credits open on July 1, 2022. A total of $1 million is available in credits, but is ...

Did you know you can support Covington Partners simply by shopping at Kroger, Amazon, and Remke Markets? KROGER It's easy when you enroll in Kroger Community Rewards. To get started, click HERE to register with your Plus Card and select Covington Partners (code DH698) as the local organization you wish to support. Once you're enrolled, you'll earn rewards for Covington Partners every time you shop with your Plus Card! AMAZON If you enjoy shopping with Amazon, you will love AmazonSmile. AmazonSmile is opera...

Holmes High School students participated in three week-long camps and extended academic tutoring sessions this summer. Camps centered around construction, leadership, and the arts. During Construction Camp, students were introduced to basic building and safety skills required by successful skilled laborers. Students learned hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity through engaging, hands-on lessons. Lydia Burns, Allied Construction, spoke to the student group about various careers in the industry, including paid in...

Horizon Community Funds of Northern Kentucky has announced a new fund with Covington Partners.    “Covington Partners touches such critical pieces of students’ lives,” said Horizon Community Funds President Nancy Grayson. “Each additional dollar raised, and each donor connected to their work, is a huge win for Northern Kentucky. We look forward to plugging them into our networks, and we invite the community to join us in supporting Covington Partners’ successful, impactful strat...

Calling all Holmes High School students… Join us for an after-hours virtual program that includes everything from digital escape rooms and science experiments to TED talks and hip-hop workouts. Summer After-Hours will be held June 8-26, 2020, Monday-Friday. In collaboration with the Holmes High School Summer School Program, Summer After-Hours is designed to take place after the hours of the typical summer school program; however, students may work at their own pace and complete the daily enrichment activities ...

Per guidance from the Kentucky Department of Education, Covington Independent Public Schools will be unable to offer an in-person program this summer; however, the school district and community partners are working diligently to provide an alternative two-week virtual program. Camp Covington 2020: #TeamKentucky, open to incoming kindergarten through eighth grade students in Covington Schools (20/21 school year), will take place July 7-July 17 (Tuesday-Friday weekly). The program will be divided into two divisions: Elem...

Per guidance from the Kentucky Department of Education, Covington Independent Public Schools will be unable to offer an in-person summer program this summer; however, the school district and community partners are working diligently to provide an alternative two-week virtual program. Details will be forthcoming and will be released on social media and the district website soon.

With COVID-19, comes uncertainty. But one thing you can count on is that as this pandemic continues to impact our communities, Covington Partners is committed to doing what is best for the children and families of Covington. The well-being and safety of these individuals is our top priority and will always be at the heart of every decision we make. The document below provides digital links that direct you to educational (both academic and enrichment) resources, including websites, games, podcasts, videos, and more. A...

During these unprecedented times of change and uncertainty, we need to bring our discussions and awareness about the importance of mental health to the forefront. We have all been affected by a global pandemic, and our responses are as varied as our individual selves. As such, we will carry what is now happening with us in some way for the rest of our lives. Consider the impact that some brief, but influential, events have had on us. Think back to the Challenger explosion, or the events of 9/11. These events have foreve...

During this vital time, please consider helping us meet the needs of our Most Valuable People: our children and families. 1.) PURCHASE ITEMS FROM AMAZON WISHLIST Purchase items from the wishlist HERE. Items will be delivered directly to Covington Partners. 2.) MAKE A MONETARY DONATION Make a monetary donation to Covington Partners HERE. All donations will directly benefit our Most Valuable People through Operation: MVP. Click HERE to download an OPERATION: MVP flyer.

June 26, 2019--Many research studies support the importance of afterschool and summer programs for students of all ages. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of studies that focus on why summer school is important-- academic regression, social-emotional needs, the need to provide meals for children through these programs--to name just a few. Over the years, from the point of view as an educator, it is common sense to me that our kids need their schools open in some capacity in the summer months. My views...

When asked to describe his mentor Frank in one word, Holmes High School senior Diontae quickly replied, “loving…tough love, but very loving.”  A retired educator himself, mentor Frank strongly believes in the importance of education as the key to success for the six young men he has mentored over the last five years (Taejuan, Kyrie, Diontae, LeShawn, Caige, and Markesis). Frank’s first question to each young man every week, is “How are your grades?”  From there, words of ...

Janis is enthusiastic and fun, but she also knows when to listen. She has volunteered for 10 years to mentor students through the Covington Partners Mentoring Program. When her son left for college, Janis decided she still had a lot to offer a teenager. In an effort to expand the world of her first mentee, she mixed adventure with everyday activities. Their outings ranged from go-cart racing and horse-back riding to painting fingernails. The two arranged outings navigating work schedules and family obligations. Over si...

Tim knows how much a mentor can help guide a protégé or young person. He says mentors were instrumental in shaping him “into the man that I am.” Over the years, Tim mentored individuals through his job and after he retired from Fidelity Investments in 2016, he decided to join a formal mentoring program after hearing an NBA athlete’s experience with mentoring.  Tim was already familiar with Covington Partners and Covington schools through his work at Fidelity, which has partnered wit...

Mentoring relationships, like that of Christy and Taysia, often continue well past high school graduation.  Taysia’s acceptance and full scholarship to Berea College were just the beginning of a whole new set of challenges and obstacles that many students face.   Mentor Christy successfully guided Taysia through the world of college admittance as well as introducing her to the “hidden curriculum” – the mix of bureaucratic know-how and sound study skills that can make or break a st...

November 27, 2018 – Covington Partners hosted Thanks (for) Giving at The Roebling Room at Smoke Justis on Tuesday, November 27. The event, held on Giving Tuesday, celebrated the many contributions of the organization’s donors and volunteer mentors and served as the release of the organization’s 2017-2018 Annual Report Card to the community.  Giving Tuesday is a global day of giving celebrated on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving and the widely recognized shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Mon...

This Thursday, hundreds of parents, students, educators, business leaders, policymakers and others will come together across our community to mark the 19th annual Lights On Afterschool, the nation’s only nationwide rally for afterschool programs.  Programs across the region will be hosting open houses, inviting families to participate in fun activities and giving tours to elected officials and policy makers.  Afterschool programs keep children safe, inspire them to learn, and give working families peac...

For the second consecutive year, Covington Partners has launched a #20Mentors20Days campaign to recruit 20 new adult volunteers to serve as mentors for the upcoming school year.  The campaign will cover the next 20 days and will lead to the first day of school for Covington Independent Public Schools on August 16.  During the 2017-18 school year, 256 adult volunteers spent more than 3,900 hours mentoring students in grades 3 - 12.  Having a positive and consistent adult role model in their life helps s...

June 22, 2018 – Covington Partners will host its ninth annual golf outing on Monday, July 9 with registration beginning at 10:30 a.m. followed by a shotgun start at 12 p.m. The event includes an 18-hole four-person scramble and will be held at the prestigious Traditions Golf Club located at 2035 Williams Road in Hebron, Kentucky. Entry into the golf outing includes use of a cart, lunch, beverages, dinner, a silent auction, and a certificate for an 18-hole return visit to Traditions Golf Club. In addition, the org...

Covington Partners is proud to collaborate with Covington Independent Public Schools this summer to host multiple summer learning opportunities for students of all ages at school sites throughout the district. The opportunities include: Camp Carnegie: The Other Side  Imagine a character’s transformation as they navigate life through another’s perspective. How does this new perspective affect their choices? This summer, students will explore “the other side” as they develop characters, dev...

COVINGTON, KENTUCKY -  More students in Covington Independent Public Schools will have opportunities to attend after-school programming that helps improve their academic achievement thanks to grants from the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program. Two schools -- Latonia Elementary and Glenn O. Swing Elementary School -- received grants totaling $1.165 million over five years. The funding allows Latonia to establish a full 21st century community learning center program for the first time. Latonia st...

Covington, KY – Covington Partners will host a training event for out-of-school time professionals throughout Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana on March 19 and 20 in Covington. Extending Excellence will be an interactive training where participants will learn how to extend excellence beyond the school day. Participants will hear from out-of-school time program practitioners on how to connect with school-day staff and community partners, collaborate on best-practice strategies to improve student achievement, as well as le...

Covington, KY – January is National Mentoring Month, and this year Covington Partners is celebrating the annual campaign aimed at expanding quality mentoring opportunities to connect more of our community’s young people with caring adults by hosting a #ThankYourMentor Breakfast and Lunch on Thursday, January 25 at Holmes High School. “Our volunteer mentors provide an invaluable service to our students. They take the time to listen, guide and support our students both academically and personally and we...

December 1, 2017 – Covington Partners has joined Cincinnati Magazine’s Cincinnati Gives Challenge, an unprecedented, year-end fundraising campaign held on Crowdrise, the crowdfunding platform for good. Cincinnati Magazine’s Cincinnati Gives Challenge, presented by Procter and Gamble (P&G), equips local charities with and facilitates connections between the interests of donors and the needs of local non-profits. More than 100 Cincinnati charities are participating and competing for $30,000 in prize ...

Washington, DC – The Afterschool Alliance announced today that Tom Haggard, Program Director, at Covington Partners, has been selected to serve as a 2017-2018 Afterschool Ambassador.  He is one of just 15 leaders from across the nation chosen for the honor this year. Each Afterschool Ambassador will continue directing or supporting a local afterschool program while also serving a one-year Afterschool Ambassador term, organizing public events, communicating with policy makers and in other ways increasing suppo...

September 14, 2017 – Covington Partners hosted a Founder’s Breakfast at the Metropolitan Club on September 14, 2017 to celebrate 18 years of providing student support services for students and families in Covington Independent Public Schools.  The event, attended by education, community and business leaders from around the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky region, highlighted the stories behind the numbers.  Dr. Janice Wilkerson, founder of Covington Partners, presented Johnna Reeder with the Fo...

August 3, 2017 – Covington Partners has launched a #20Mentors20Days campaign to recruit 20 new adult volunteers to serve as mentors.  The campaign will cover the next 20 days and will lead to the first day of school for Covington Independent Public Schools on August 23.  During the 2016-17 school year, 236 adult volunteers spent more than 3,800 hours mentoring students in grades 3 - 12.  Having a positive and consistent adult role model in their life helps students achieve in school – last yea...

Covington, KY – Covington Partners, in partnership with the National Summer Learning Association (NSLA), highlighted the importance of summer learning opportunities at a Summer Success Tour on Thursday, July 13.  Led by the National Summer Learning Association (NSLA), National Summer Learning Day is an advocacy day aimed at elevating the importance of keeping all kids learning, healthy and safe during the summer. On this day each year, the country unites in advocacy efforts and celebrations hosted by hu...

February 17, 2017 - Covington Partners has received a $100,000 multi-year grant from The Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr./U.S. Bank Foundation to fund the Community Learning Center initiative in Covington Independent Public Schools. This initiative seeks to provide wrap-around support services to help students succeed in school and in life.   Covington Partners was founded in 1999 as a community coalition focused on reducing drug abuse and violence among Covington youth. Since that time, the organization has exp...

Covington, KY, – Covington Partners will host its’ March Community Coalition meeting on Tuesday, March 14 from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Life Learning Center (20 West 18th Street, Covington KY 41011).  Lunch will be provided.  Stacie Strotman, Executive Director of Covington Partners, will present the results from the Kentucky Incentives for Prevention (KIP) survey of Covington Independent Public Schools students that was administered in the fall of 2016. The KIP survey provides informatio...

In honor of National Mentoring Month, the Covington Partners Mentoring Program celebrated Mentor Appreciation Day on Wednesday, January 25 to recognize the outstanding commitment of volunteer mentors and the impact they have on the lives of Covington students. More than 150 mentors and students celebrated throughout the day with breakfast and lunch served in the Holmes High School Library. Every week, even if for a short time, mentors give their full and undivided attention to their mentee. Data shows that these p...

June 20, 2016 - Covington Partners received a $100,000 grant from The Greater Cincinnati Foundation (GCF) and from the William Riedlin, Sr. Memorial Fund and the R.C. Durr Foundation Fund to expand and enhance the Community Learning Centers initiative in Covington Independent Public Schools.   This initiative seeks to provide wrap-around support services to help students succeed in school and in life.   This is the third year that GCF has funded the Community Learning Center initiative.   C...

Transitioning from high school to college can be a grueling task, not only emotionally. but also financially. According to the National Retail Federation, in 2015 the average student spent $899.18 on technology and dorm supplies when attending college for the first time. These expenses are beyond the typical costs (tuition, room and board, books, etc.) high school seniors associate with their freshman year of college. Students are hit with many "firsts" when planning their post-secondary education, so we want to help. ...

Covington, KY, April 25, 2016 – Covington Partners is joining with the National AfterSchool Association (NAA) to celebrate the professionals that are at the heart of afterschool programs during the first ever “Afterschool Professionals Appreciation Week” April 25-29, 2016.  “We believe Afterschool professionals make a difference in the life of a child,” said Stacie Strotman, Executive Director of Covington Partners “We encourage everyone to join us this week in thanking the afte...

Covington, KY - Covington Partners will host its seventh annual golf tournament on Monday, July 25 with registration beginning at 10:30 a.m. and a shotgun start at 12 p.m. The event, which has limited spots available, includes an 18-hole four-person scramble and will be held at the prestigious Traditions Golf Club located at 2035 Williams Road in Hebron, Kentucky. Entry into the golf outing also includes golf with cart, lunch, complimentary beverages, dinner, a silent auction, and a certificate good for a 18-hole r...

March 13, 2015 - Through an application process, fifteen students at Holmes Middle School have been selected to participate in the STEM Bicycle Club, a specialized after-school program in the Holmes Middle School Community Learning Center made possible by the assistance and support of local community partners, including Fidelity, GE, Wal-Mart, Greater Cincinnati STEM Collaborative, and many more.   The initial club was developed last spring as the result of a partnership between the ...

January 20, 2015 - This month will mark the 14th annual National Mentoring Month, and Covington Partners is participating in this campaign aimed at expanding quality mentoring opportunities to connect more of our community’s young people with positive adult role models. “Mentoring is one of the most cost-effective and research-based strategies to make a positive impact on the life of a student,” said Stacie Strotman, Executive Director of Covington Partners.  “Mentoring is linked to im...

December 19, 2014 - Covington Partners has received a $50,000 grant from The Greater Cincinnati Foundation (GCF) to fund the Community Learning Center (CLC) at Latonia Elementary School.  This is the second year that GCF has funded the CLC at Latonia Elementary School. Covington Partners, formerly Covington Partners in Prevention, was founded in 1999 as a community coalition focused on reducing drug abuse and violence among Covington youth.  Since that time, the organization has expanded to include...

October 16, 2014 - Covington Partners has received a $50,000 grant from The Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr./U.S. Bank Foundation to continue the Community Learning Center (CLC) at Latonia Elementary School.  Covington Partners, formerly Covington Partners in Prevention, was founded in 1999 as a community coalition focused on reducing drug abuse and violence among Covington youth.  Since that time, the organization has expanded to include programs and services related to education, wellness, ment...

October 6, 2014 - Covington Partners, an organization committed to supporting students and families in Covington, announced today that it has been awarded a $10,000 grant from the eBay Foundation Corporate Advised Fund at Silicon Valley Community Foundation.  The grant was recommended by eBay Foundation’s employee-volunteer led Kentucky GIVE Team.  Members of the Kentucky GIVE Team will present a check to Covington Partners staff on Thursday, October 9, 2014 at 3 p.m.  at the local eBay office...

Joining 7,500 Nationwide Rallies Aimed at Making Afterschool Programs Available to All Covington Partners will celebrate Lights on Afterschool during the month of October by hosting four events at schools throughout the Covington district. All events are open to the families and community members of Covington. The celebrations are part of a nationwide rally known as Lights On Afterschool, in which over 7,500 events are hosted to focus on the importance of quality afterschool programming. Covington Partners staff w...

Covington, Kentucky – July 16, 2014 – This fall marks the 15th year of Covington based non-profit, Covington Partners,  an organization who partners with Covington Independent School District to reduce barriers to student achievement. To celebrate, Covington Partners will host a birthday party luncheon on Friday, August 15th from 11:30am – 1:30pm at the Madison Event Center in Covington, KY.   The birthday party is being co-hosted by Brent Cooper of C-Forward, a fellow Covin...

Covington, Kentucky – June 23, 2014 – Covington Partners will host its fifth annual golf tournament on Monday, July 14 with registration beginning at 10:30am and a shotgun start at 12:30 pm. The event, which has limited spots available, includes an 18-hole four-person scramble and will be held at the prestigious Traditions Golf Club located at 2035 Williams Road in Hebron, Kentucky. Entry into the golf outing also includes golf with cart, a boxed lunch, complimentary beverages, dinner, a silent auctio...

Covington, KY – February 25, 2014 – After nearly 200 applications and in person reviews with key non-profit leaders, Cincinnati’s premier marketing and public relations firm The Eisen Agency has selected its 2014 Operation: Outreach recipients. Each non-profit organization will receive comprehensive marketing and marketing communications expertise from the professionals at The Eisen Agency, including such services as brand development, website and online development, media relations, social media...

In one classroom at Covington’s Ninth District Elementary School, students pored over reading lessons. In another, they worked on projects. They’ll eat dinner here tonight, get help with homework and maybe even take some art classes. This is what Covington Independent Schools calls a Community Learning Center, a place where students can get the out-of-school help they need to succeed when they’re in school. District officials hope – and data show they’ll likely be right – that t...

Fitness Rocks, a collaborative effort between Covington Partners and Covington Independent Public Schools to improve wellness among students and families in Covington, was recently featured by the Kentucky School Board Association.   From the article, "A fitness program in Covington Independent Schools has been so successful that some of its students are trying to walk to Walt Disney World – or at least the equivalent distance.'There’s a walking club at Sixth District Elementary where they ...

Covington Partners has received a $25,000 grant from The Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr./U.S. Bank Foundation to fund a Community Learning Center (CLC) at Latonia Elementary School.  Covington Partners, formerly Covington Partners in Prevention, was founded in 1999 as a community coalition focused on reducing drug abuse and violence among Covington youth.  Since that time, the organization has expanded to include programs and services related to education, wellness, mentoring and family engagement.  P...

July 23, 2013 - Since 1995, the Metropolitan Award Dinner honoree(s) have the distinct pleasure of choosing a charitable recipient of the monies raised at the annual event.  The funds raised from this year’s Metropolitan Award Dinner will be donated to ArtsWave, a Greater Cincinnati non-profit arts support group, and Covington Partners, a non-profit organization offering mentoring, family strengthening, and physical/mental health programs. The Metropolitan Award is presented annually to a citizen(s) of Grea...

    Covington Partners has received a $50,000 grant from The Greater Cincinnati Foundation (GCF) to fund a Community Learning Center (CLC) at Latonia Elementary School.      Covington Partners, formerly Covington Partners in Prevention, was founded in 1999 as a community coalition focused on reducing drug abuse and violence among Covington youth.  Since that time, the organization has expanded to include programs and services related to education, wellness, mentoring a...

Covington Partners is pleased to announce our 4th Annual Golf Outing will take place Monday July 15, 2013 at Traditions Golf Club in Hebron, Kentucky.    The outing is being sponsored by The Bank of Kentucky, Queensgate Foodservice, Traditions Golf Club and Lexus Rivercenter.  Brent Cooper, President of C-Forward Inc.  says, "The Covington Partners Golf outing is a terrific event!  It offers great golf at a first class venue, wonderful networking with some of the top business and civic lead...

The Covington Mentoring Program hosted a luncheon on Tuesday, April 30. The event was a major success with more than 200 mentors, students, and staff attending in support of the program and to honor the 10 seniors and their mentors. Covington Independent Public Schools Superintendent Lynda Jackson kicked off the event with a warm welcome and some inspiring data points about the academic strides that students have made in the past year in Covington, “We thank each of you for exploring this opportunity with Coving...

Students who participate in the after school program in Covington Independent Public Schools are not only eating breakfast and lunch at school - dinner has now been added.   Thanks to the Freestore Foodbank's Kids Café program which collaborates with Covington Partners, dinner is now available at five sites throughout the district. The Kids Café program now feeds more than 200 on a daily basis.

Congratulations to Covington Partners Director, Stacie Strotman, for being recognized as a nominee for the 2013 Outstanding Women of Northern Kentucky Awards presented by Toyota. Congratulations to all of the amazing women who were honored this afternoon for their commitment and leadership in our community!

Brent Cooper, President and Owner of C-Forward, Inc. and member of Covington Partners Board of Directors, was featured for his role in the revitalization of Madison Avenue in Covington. 

Covington Partners is happy to report that United Way of Greater Cincinnati has invested in Covington Partners for the next three years. This funding will provide a stronger academic focus in our after school programs through an after school instructional coach, sustain our Leadership and Resiliency Program at Holmes Middle and High Schools, and will continue to support family engagement throughout our community. This is fabulous news and we sincerely thank all of you who LIVE UNITED and support Covington Partners!

Covington Partners will host a parent meeting Monday, October 22 from 5:30-7:00PM at the Instructional Support Center, 212 Levassor Place. Dinner and childcare will be provided. At this meeting we will discuss current programming and ask for parent's feedback and suggestions about future programming. If you have further questions or to RSVP, please call Margo Willman at 859.392.3172.

Covington Partners celebrated “Lights on Afterschool” with a bus tour of beyond school hours programs for community leaders on Thursday, October 18. Leaders from government, business and non-profits toured Glenn O. Swing Elementary, Holmes Middle School and Ninth District Elementary. They saw students being tutored by certified teachers, participating in STEM activities, staying active through Fitness Rocks and much more.

Stacie Strotman, Director of Covington Partners, and Tom Haggard, Resource Development Coordinator, presented "Partnering for Academic Success" at the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Multi-State Conference in Nashville, TN. The annual conference attracts over 500 after school leaders from Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, West Virginia and Tennessee to share insights and best practices.