The city of Maricopa's local governance has just seen the latest group of residents armed with newfound insights and potential for civic engagement. At a recent City Council Meeting, the Maricopa Citizen Leadership Academy celebrated its 24th graduating class, marking nearly 400 citizens who have undergone its transformative education since opening its doors in 2009. The Academy educates on the inner workings of local government and strives to inspire community involvement.
Spanning four weekly evening sessions, the curriculum designed to give Maricopa residents an intimate look at the city's ventures into public safety, regional issues, and economic development, demands that attendees must complete 90 minutes of community service or bear witness to the machinations of governance via one city board or commission meeting to graduate. One of the Academy's latest graduates, Devin Pitcher, stated, “This was an amazing experience and I really learned a lot attending these sessions. I honestly wish they were longer because I want to learn so much more,” according to the Maricopa official publication.
Each newly minted graduate like Devin Pitcher brings the total to over 395 citizens enriched by the program. Crafting informed and engaged citizens, participants must attend at least three out of the four sessions, aside from the required service or meeting attendance. Twenty-one individuals comprise this latest cadre, ready to transfer classroom knowledge to real-world community impact.
Mayor Nancy Smith, praising the initiative’s role in community enlightenment, put it succinctly, stating, “If you've ever wondered how business choose to come to our city, how many police and fire employees are needed, and the overall financial health of Maricopa, those questions and more get answered at the Citizen Leadership Academy,” as reported by the City of Maricopa.
Interest in the upcoming session of the Academy and the perspectives of past attendees can be found by subscribing to the weekly newsletter and viewing testimonials online. For more details, residents are encouraged to visit the City of Maricopa's official website and watch the video below.
