By JC Medina
The Lacey City Council celebrated the first Lacey Community Academy graduation during its meeting on Tuesday, April 15.
Community Relations Specialist Jenny Bauersfeld led the presentation for the academy graduation, noting this was year one of the Lacey Community Academy.
“I might be biased, but it was a great success,” Bauersfeld said. “I couldn't have asked for a better group of people to start this out.”
She recounted the positive initial atmosphere among the Lacey Community Academy participants, suggesting despite being strangers at the start, they immediately engaged in conversation and displayed a sense of comfort with one another from the first day.
Bauersfeld provided a brief overview of each of the six weeks of the academy.
Week one was "Lacey 101 overview" led by Rick Walk and Shannon Kelley-Fong, covering city council, the mayor and the deputy mayor, and included role-playing on adopting policies.
Week two focused on the Public Works Department, with presentations from Scott Egger and his team, and a field trip to the Hawk Prairie Water Treatment Facility, which Bauersfeld noted was "a big eye opener for everybody, myself included, at what a complex water system we have.”
Week three covered community and economic development, starting with a tour of the Lacey Maker Space led by Michelle Pope, followed by a presentation on zoning and development.
Week four highlighted parks culture and recreation, with a tour of the community center and activities at the park.
Week five featured the Lacey Police Department, including an overview of the department’s culture and demonstrations.
The final week involved the Finance Department, led by Troy Woo, with an activity where participants managed a hypothetical budget.
Bauersfeld described the last activity as saving "the most exciting one for last.”
She expressed gratitude for the participants' dedication over the six weeks.
She then proceeded to read the names of the graduates, who were invited to receive their certificates and shake hands with the council members.
Following the recognition of the graduates, Lacey Mayor Andy Ryder recognized Bauersfeld commending her leadership in establishing the academy and noting "this was something you know we've always been talking about ideas of how can we better interact with our community and get more engagement and Jenny is the one that really was leading on this from from day one.”
Ryder also highlighted the academy's potential to encourage community members to serve on city boards and commissions, calling it a "win-win all the way around.”
basmithwagmailatjolt
Please remind me who these graduates are and what they will be doing now that they are "enlightened."
Monday, April 21 Report this
Virge13
Civic knowledge is a good thing. What will the participants do with what they’ve learned?
Sunday, April 27 Report this