Twenty-two residents of Palm Coast celebrated their graduation from the 55th session of the Palm Coast Citizens Academy during the City Council meeting on Tuesday, May 7th.
The academy session, which started on March 25th and concluded on May 6th, took participants on a behind-the-scenes tour to show the inner workings of city government. For seven weeks in a row, participants spent three hours each Monday evening learning, touring, and exploring each department in the city.
This session’s graduates include Ellen Bell, Robert Bonnell, Don Brown, Teresa Browne, Gail Danhoff, Edward Fuller, Nina Guiglotto, Paulette Hatfield, Gordon Heritage, Angelo Ippolito, Edward Lang, Jeff LaPointe, Jim Mutchie, Jolanta Nowak, Eli Rodriguez, Charles Rowsell, Patty Schuman, Donna Stancel, Mark Stancel, Sam Smith, Robert Strunk, and Jefferey Uzcategui.
The Palm Coast Citizens Academy is a free, comprehensive program designed to provide insights into various city departments such as Utilities, Stormwater & Engineering, Financial Services, Parks & Recreation, Community Development, Public Works, and the Fire Department. Organized by the City’s Communications & Marketing Department, the academy offers interactive sessions with city officials, including City Council members, the city manager, and department directors. The program is held twice a year, with an evening session in the spring and an afternoon session in the fall, accommodating up to 30 participants per session.
Palm Coast Mayor David Alfin encouraged this group of graduates to form the first ever Palm Coast Citizen Academy Alumni group to meet regularly and work alongside the city to serve as city champions and ambassadors. He also offered the entire community an opportunity to get involved. He said, “I urge those who haven’t participated yet to sign up for the next session. It’s a fantastic way to get involved and empowers you to make informed decisions and contribute to our community.”
Registration is available for those interested in joining the upcoming sessions of the Palm Coast Citizens Academy at www.palmcoast.gov/citizensacademy. For more information, please contact the Communications and Marketing department via email at communications@palmcoastgov.com.