The Covington Neighborhood Collaborative, in partnership with the Center for Great Neighborhoods, will host the CNC 2026 Community Summit: “Encouraging the Livable City” on Saturday, May 16, at Life Learning Center, located at 20 W. 18th St. in Covington.
The free public event features a keynote, four resident-centered panels with audience question and answer session, and next steps for ongoing Community Conversations. Registration is required and includes a free lunch for registered attendees.
Doors open at 8:30 a.m. for registration, coffee, and networking. Programming begins at 9 a.m. and concludes at 2 p.m.
“Covington is at its best when neighbors can show up, learn together, and help shape what comes next,” said John T. Spence, chair of the CNC 2026 Community Summit. “This Summit is designed to be welcoming, practical, and resident-shaped—so ideas are captured clearly and the path to ongoing civic participation is visible.”
The morning will open with a keynote address from Mike Squire, division manager of community engagement for the City of Dayton and a Kettering Foundation Fellow, focused on civic engagement and what success looks like when residents help shape their city.
Following the keynote, attendees will join two rounds of concurrent panel sessions.
Urban Gardening in the Livable City: 9:45–11 a.m.
• Kymisha Montgomery, urban agriculture program coordinator, Civic Garden Center
• Gertrude Lorenz, owner, Wild Gardens
• Moderator: Cate Douglas — community building director, Center for Great Neighborhoods
Moving About the Livable City: 9:45–11 a.m.
• Melissa “Mel” McVay, pedestrian safety and bike program panager, City of Cincinnati
• Barbara Didrichsen, community safety volunteer, Pleasant Ridge Traffic Committee
• Moderator: Aaron Wolpert — founder, COVstreets
Affording to Live in the Livable City: 11:10 a.m.–12:25 a.m.
• Te’Airea Powell, coordinator, faith and government relations, Habitat for Humanity
• Tara Johnson-Noem, executive director, Northern Kentucky Area Development District
• Katherine Keough-Jurs, director, city planning and engagement, City of Cincinnati
• Jeremy Wallace, manager, community development, City of Covington
• Moderator: JT Spence, PhD, AICP — chair, CNC Community Summit
Art and Aesthetics in the Livable City: 11:10 a.m.–12:25 p.m.
• Rachael Parker, ArtsWave Director, Northern Kentucky Creative Placemaking
• Sydney Fine, Senior Director of Advancement, ArtWorks
• Jay Becker, Co-Founder, BLDG
• Moderator: Cate Douglas — Community Building Director, Center for Great Neighborhoods
“Covington’s aesthetic isn’t ‘extra’ — it shapes how safe a street feels, creates walkability, promotes small business development, and how public spaces are activated,” said Douglas. “At the Summit, we’ll explore how public art, mobility and transit enhancements, façade improvements, and other urban planning initiatives can create a city that feels vibrant, welcoming, and livable in every neighborhood.”
Lunch will be served at 12:30 p.m., followed by a “Lunch + Synthesis” session in the main room. Organizers will summarize what was heard across the panels, share how themes will be carried forward, and invite attendees to plug into ongoing, neighbor-led Community Conversations. Closing remarks begin at 1:15 p.m., followed by sign-ups and networking through 2 p.m.
Registration is free and open to the public, but seating is limited to 200 registrants. Registered attendees will receive speaker spotlights, agenda highlights, and a free lunch.
For more information, visit Covington Neighborhood Collaborative.
Covington Neighborhood Collaborative