Pittsylvania Couny Citizens Academy BOSConnecting local government with the community
Pittsylvania County Citizens Academy
The idea
•Create a program to increase public engagement and awareness about how Pittsylvania County’s government
works and provide an opportunity to meet the people who implement the programs and departments.
•Generate a pipeline of residents willing to serve and volunteer on County boards, commissions and groups.
•Before launching a full-length eight-to-12-week Academy, the team thought it would be good to try a smaller
pilot program to gauge public interest.
•The time frame selected for the Citizens Academy is after the Nov. 7 election and before Christmas. All
sessions will be held at the Community Center.
•Tentative dates and times are as follows:
•Thursday, Nov. 9, 2-4 p.m.
•Thursday, Nov. 16, 5-7 p.m.
•Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2-4 p.m.
•Thursday, Dec. 14, 5-7:30 p.m.
The approach
•This four-session pilot program is built around a simulated project – a multi-purpose
recreational center.
•The goal is to show participants how key departments work while at the same time allowing
them to be active participants in a simulated, but realistic problem-solving exercise.
•The program was created based on input from several Virginia counties, towns and cities.
•Parks and Recreation
•Finance
•Purchasing
•Community Development
•Economic Development
•Public Works
•Legal
•Public Safety
•Information Management
•Other departments/areas as needed
Participating
County
departments
The pilot program will focus on four main areas
corresponding with key departments:
•Community Enhancement
•Public Infrastructure and Planning
•Finance/Procurement/Legal
•Construction and Programming
Focus areas
Session content
•During each session, staff will provide an overview of their department’s role and
function within the organization as well as how it would respond to a project such
as a multi-purpose recreational center.
•The sessions will include opportunities for hands-on, interactive activities.
•Participants will also learn about the County’s many boards and commissions and
opportunities to serve.
•The program will culminate with a graduation event.
Next steps
•Continue to meet with department heads
to design session presentations/hands-on
activities
•Prepare a marketing campaign for the
Citizens Academy through traditional
media – newspapers, TV, radio, as well as
social media and County TVs.
•Create flyers and/or brochures to
distribute throughout the county. Example:
Libraries
•Determine budget and purchase any
necessary materials for the Academy.
Questions?