The City of Paducah is accepting applications for the Paducah Citizens’ Academy, Your Passport to City Government. The Academy offers participants an in-depth look at how local government works through an interactive program held on nine consecutive Thursday evenings beginning April 17. The Academy is a mixture of classroom instruction, hands-on activities, site visits, and tours.
The program is free to participants; however, class size is limited. Individuals 16 years of age and older who live, work, or attend school in Paducah-McCracken County are encouraged to apply. Registration is available through April 6 by completing the form in the link below.
Apply for 2025 Paducah Citizens' Academy
City Manager Daron Jordan said, “The Paducah Citizens’ Academy provides citizens a unique opportunity to see behind-the-scenes of city government. Through interactive activities and interesting conversations, the Citizens’ Academy strengthens our community connections. Our hope is that each graduate will share their city government knowledge and experience with their friends and family. Local government has its complexities, but through the Citizens’ Academy, we are working to share with the public the value of local government and how we accomplish projects and provide services.”
The Paducah Citizens’ Academy will be Thursdays, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., from April 17 through June 12. Some sessions may start at earlier times to facilitate tours. A graduation ceremony will be at the June 24 meeting of the Paducah Board of Commissioners with a reception before the meeting.
City Clerk and Director of Customer Experience Lindsay Parish coordinates the Academy along with Senior Customer Experience Representative Cathy Bryant-Quimby. Parish said, “The Citizens’ Academy is a win-win. For a community member, it is an opportunity to get a much closer look at local government operations and make new connections with City staff. However, this is an equally rewarding experience for the staff since they hear community perspectives through the open dialogue. It’s an educational experience for everyone.”
Academy topics include the following:
- City Government 101 (Administration, City Clerk, Customer Experience, Grants, and Communications)
- Keeping You Safe (Fire Department)
- Serving with Pride (Police Department and E911)
- Always Something to Do (Parks & Recreation Department)
- Dollars and Sensibility (Finance Department)
- Internal Services (Technology and Human Resources departments)
- Streets, Streams, and Strategies (Engineering Department)
- Basic Necessities (Public Works Department)
- Building for Tomorrow (Planning Department)
If you have a question about the Paducah Citizens’ Academy, contact Bryant-Quimby at 270-444-8800 or by email..
The Paducah Citizens’ Academy is similar in structure to the highly successful Citizens’ Police Academy offered through the Paducah Police Department.
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