Green Bay residents recently graduated from the City Hall Academy, a program that provides an interactive and hands-on look into local government offices. The academy, which was first launched in 2023, has seen four rounds of graduates, with the latest batch completing the program on Thursday night at Bay Beach Amusement Park.

Program Overview

The City Hall Academy is an eight-week program that meets every Thursday evening. Participants get to engage with city leaders, including the mayor, and learn about various aspects of local government, such as public works, planning, and zoning. They also get to participate in interactive sessions, including police demonstrations and a tour of the city’s public works vehicles.

According to Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich, the program has been a success, with participants gaining a deeper understanding of the city’s services and operations. ‘They’re just kind of overwhelmed by the number of services we provide and sometimes the complexity of the programs we offer, and the services we offer to citizens,’ he said.

Participant Feedback

Participants in the program had positive feedback, with many expressing their appreciation for the opportunity to learn about local government. ‘I learned how important it is to the mayor to address the housing issues, he is passionate about that,’ said Francesca Glaser. Another participant, Andrea Batten, said, ‘How much infrastructure and planning had to go into taking water from Lake Michigan, to treating it.’ Other participants also shared their experiences, including learning about the city’s electric bus and the cameras and computer systems used for traffic lights and walkways.

The program not only benefits the participants but also the city, as they become advocates for the City of Green Bay. ‘As they go on, they are advocates for the City of Green Bay; because now they know about the departments, and they know how things work,’ said Kerry Yang, Green Bay’s Community Liaison & Special Events Coordinator.

Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.