Release Date: July 16,2020
Mayor Horrigan Opens Applications for Fourth Annual Mayor’s Citizens Institute
Class size will be limited and most meetings will be held virtually due to COVID-19 restrictions
Akron, Ohio, July 16, 2020 – For the last four years, Mayor Dan Horrigan has welcomed Akron citizens to learn more about their local government through the City of Akron Mayor’s Citizens Institute—a free, 10-week program designed to provide Akron residents with an inside view of City operations. Today, Mayor Horrigan has opened applications for the 2020 Mayor’s Citizens Institute class.
This year’s class will be slightly different due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Most classes will be held virtually via Zoom with a handful of in-person meetings. To ensure proper distancing during the in-person meetings, class size will be limited to 12 participants.
“I’m pleased to be able to present the Citizens Institute again this year with modifications to ensure our residents’ safety,” said Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan. “We consistently have received amazing feedback from previous participants about how much they’ve learned from the program and how they are able to take that back into the neighborhoods they live and work in. While this year will look different, I am confident that all who participate will get the same beneficial experience.”
Attendees will learn about available city programs, services, meet city staff and experience mock decision-making processes. Residents will engage in discussions about the City’s charter form of government, its responsibilities and duties, and its accountability to the public. The Citizens Institute has alumni from its first three classes, and those residents continue to engage with City leadership on issues that matter to them.
Mayor Horrigan continued, “These classes give our residents a chance to learn more about the institutions and people that serve them. It also opens up a line of direct communication between City leaders and residents to allow us to learn from one another through open dialogue.”
Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and current residents of Akron. The Institute will run from mid-August through early November 2020. Applications for the 2020 Mayor’s Citizens Institute are due on or before July 31, 2020. The application, a description of the program and schedule of program dates are available at www.akronohio.gov/MCI.
The Mayor’s Citizens Institute is made possible through the support and partnership of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and Leadership Akron. Individuals with questions about the program or the application process should contact Summer Hall in the Mayor’s Office at (330) 375-2376 or Mayor@akronohio.gov. Media inquiries should be directed to Ellen Lander Nischt, Press Secretary, at (330) 375-2325 or ELander@akronohio.gov.