COVINGTON, Ky. – The City of Covington is proud to recognize The Esperanza Latino Center of Northern Kentucky as a recipient of a 2026 Authenti-CITY Award for its impactful work serving Latino families across the region. 

The Authenti-CITY Awards were unveiled by the City’s Economic Development Department in 2021 to celebrate National Economic Development Week in a unique way. The awards honor small businesses and organizations that “keep it real in The Cov” by contributing to the city’s authentic character and community spirit. 

The Esperanza Center, located at 234 Pike Street, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving Latino families throughout Northern Kentucky. The Center provides a wide range of support services focused on health education, English as a Second Language classes, workforce development and training, and job-readiness skills. It also offers youth and family programming, along with cultural integration support designed to help newcomers navigate and thrive in their community. 

In partnership with the Esperanza Center, the City of Covington has sponsored workshops on topics such as starting a business and purchasing a home. Classes and programs are offered year-round and are continually adapted to meet the evolving needs of the families they serve. 

The organization’s mission is to empower individuals in the Latino and immigrant communities by reducing barriers to opportunity, fostering economic mobility, and promoting long-term community integration and success. The Esperanza Center provides hope for families in pursuit of the American dream, and for this reason, it has been selected as a recipient of a 2026 Authenti-CITY Award.