City of Madera:
LATEST NEWS
September 20, 2024
City honors Citizens Academy grads
The City of Madera recently celebrated the successful completion of its 2024 Citizens Academy, marking the first time the program has been offered since the COVID-19 pandemic. The City posted invitations for residents to apply for the Academy in June and received an overwhelming response from the community. Held over eight weekly sessions from July 15 to September 9, this comprehensive educational series gave fifteen participants a unique inside look at the workings of city government and its many departments.
During the program, attendees engaged with officials from City Council, City Clerk, Administration, Fire, Parks and Community Services, Community Development, Police, Finance, Risk Management, and Public Works to learn about the critical functions within the various departments. Each session, hosted at different City facilities, gave participants an in-depth view of the City’s day-to-day operations—from budget discussions to public safety, economic development, infrastructure, and future projects. The Academy culminated in a special graduation dinner, where participants took part in a Q&A session with City leaders to discuss current projects, future plans and other topics of interest, such as Measure T and the upcoming local election.
Participants were invited to be formally recognized at the September 18th City Council meeting, where each graduate was awarded a Certificate of Recognition for their commitment to civic engagement, community involvement and for completing the academy.
Citizens Academy is a key initiative designed to strengthen community connections and promote active participation in local government. Through this program, the City of Madera reinforced its commitment to transparency and collaboration by providing residents with an opportunity to gain practical insights into civic processes and form partnerships with local leaders, allowing them to take an active part in shaping the future of their city.
The City of Madera looks forward to offering future programs for residents to engage in civic education, leadership development and advocacy efforts. For future Citizens Academy opportunities, residents are encouraged to subscribe to the City’s social media (Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, etc.) and to check the City’s website at www.madera.gov/academy.