Washougal offering Citizen Academy

The city of Washougal is accepting applications for its inaugural Citizen Academy, a six-week program designed to educate and engage residents in local government. The academy will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. every Thursday from April 17 through May 25 at Washougal City Hall, 1701 C St., Washougal. City leaders first discussed the possibilities of implementing an academy during their strategic plan update conversation in 2022 as a way to foster greater transparency, understanding and collaboration between the city government and the residents it serves. “(We want) to engage the community by providing citizens with the opportunity to access local government,” said Rose Jewell, the academy’s supervisor and Washougal community engagement manager. City leaders will deliver presentations on a variety of topics, including general government, finance and budget; community development; public works; public safety; and community services and strategy, to the academy’s 15 participants “The city hopes to utilize the Citizen Academy to enhance dialogue and increase knowledge of local government by introducing city (leaders to) provide an overview from each department and be available to answer questions,” Jewell said. The academy will aim to empower residents with the knowledge they need to bring issues and concerns forward with greater effectiveness, Jewell said. “We hope to enhance existing relationships and cultivate new ones to create a healthy and vibrant community that benefits the city of Washougal as a whole,” she added. City leaders will encourage graduates to share their knowledge with friends, family members and neighbors, and take active roles in local government through volunteer opportunities, boards and commissions. “This academy is a way for people to come in and really understand (the city),” Washougal Mayor David Stuebe said previously. “It’s a way to educate. People read something on Facebook, they think it’s true, they don’t have all the facts, and they just need to be educated on (some things). The academy would be more of a collaboration where people can come together and ask questions and find out how they can get involved.” The academy is free, and all materials will be provided. The city is expecting participants to attend at least five of the six sessions but strongly encourages full participation. Residents must fill out an application on the city of Washougal website to be considered for the academy, with selections made by the city’s Community Services Committee. Those not selected for this session will be considered for future academies, which will be held at least once per year, Jewell said. For more information and to apply, visit cityofwashougal.us/CitizenAcademy. Doug Flanagan: 360-735-4669; doug.flanagan@columbian.com

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