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MAYOR HORRIGAN'S CITIZENS INSTITUTE

Program Description

Modeled after best practices in other thriving cities, the Mayor’s Citizens Institute is a free, 10-week experience in which a group of approximately 25-30 Akron residents will meet once a week in the evenings, to engage with City departments and leaders. Participants will be diverse, represent their ward and interested in finding out how their local government works and in turn, how they can help Akron grow and succeed. We have graduated over 103 residents from this program.

Attendees will learn about available city programs, services, meet city staff and experience mock decision-making processes. By engaging diverse citizens, we hope to educate one another, and foster pride, progress and partnerships within our community. We believe the Mayor’s Citizens Institute will spark an interest in public service, increase citizen engagement in City events and processes, give citizens a voice in their community, and will help to educate others in their knowledge of the City of Akron. It is our ultimate goal to develop participants into true ambassadors for Akron and all it has to offer.

City leaders/programs will benefit from the participant feedback, creativity and newly formed community partnerships and support. Through the Institute, we will establish better communication and transparency between city government and our citizens.

Participants must be 18 or older and live in Akron. Dinner will be provided each evening as well as some transportation required for moving participations from locations/departments/facilities throughout the city.

The City of Akron Citizens Institute is funded by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Synthomer Foundation and Akron Community Foundation. Leadership Akron serves as the fiscal agent.