The City of Coachella announced in a Facebook post that attendees of its first Coachella Resident Engagement Academy have graduated. They completed the seven-week program with a deeper understanding of how the city is run and a little cash for their time and commitment. The program, which was conducted in both English and Spanish, aimed to educate residents about the functioning of their local government.
In regards to the completion of this academy, the city shared some sentiments on social media. “We hope you enjoyed the program and feel that you are more informed about how our City is run, and the different roles our staff and partners play in fulfilling the needs of Coachella,” the city said in the Facebook post.
Details about this initiative can be found on official resources. According to the City of Coachella’s website, the Resident Engagement Academy launched in October. The program’s goal is to give residents a comprehensive look at how the city operates. The curriculum focuses on key departments and contributors and is offered in English and Spanish. The program is limited to 25 participants, and enrollees must be 16 years or older. As an incentive to complete the program, attendees receive a $250 stipend once they graduate.
The learning journey comprised various interactions with department heads over two months. According to the city’s website, the sessions, held at the Coachella Library from Oct. 3 and Nov. 31, included presentations by the city manager and economic development director, public works director, code enforcement manager, controller, police department personnel, Riverside County Department of Health representatives among others.
This innovative concept was supported by high-ranking officials right from its inception. According to an Oct. 2 NBC Palm Springs report, Mayor Steven Hernandez stated in September, when the academy was announced: “Our vision was to develop a participatory program to engage and better inform members of the community about the inner workings of our local government, and to receive their honest feedback on how we can all work together toward common goals to keep our city thriving.”
