Remembering Herb Talabere

The East Main Street SID would not exist if not for Herb Talabere and his VISION

Herb translated his deep respect for diversity and his gentle wisdom into meaningful actions for community change throughout his work life and as a volunteer.

He graduated from Yale Divinity School, and began his career in urban ministry in a high-rise housing project in New Haven, CT. During this time, he also took part in civil rights marches in Selma and Washington DC. Then he moved to Syracuse, NY where he worked for the Council of Churches. His desire to be engaged in a broader approach to urban change led him to complete a Master's degree in Public Administration at Syracuse University. From there, he moved to Columbus to take a position with the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development in grant management for cities in Ohio. After several years, he fulfilled his dream of establishing his own business, selling books and small items to book and gift stores in Ohio, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. Just prior to retirement, he taught small business development to immigrants from Ethiopia, Somalia, and Russia at the Jewish Community Center.

However, his commitment to the community did not end with retirement. He became actively engaged in the Eastmoor Civic Association, serving as president for two terms. He also was active in the Mideast Area Community Collaborative (MACC) which became the Mideast Area Commission, organizations that serve 15 neighborhoods on the east side of Columbus. Working closely with these organizations and many others, Herb worked tirelessly to establish a Special Improvement District (SID) on East Main Street which has led to many improvements. On June 7, 2022, Herb was honored for his community work. Honorary street signs, "Herb Talabere Way", were placed at East Main and Kenwick and at East Main and Barnett Road.