HomeMy WebLinkAboutCIVIC LEADERS ACADEMY PROGRAM OVERVIEWCity Hall 101: Civic Leaders Academy
An Investment in Community:
Building a Cadre of Informed and Engaged Community Leaders
1
Nancy L. Bloom, Communications | Sept. 22, 2026
Purpose of the Briefing
•Provide Council with a high-level overview of the
City Hall 101: Civic Leaders Academy initiative
•Share results of pilot and results analysis
•Reinforce how the Academy strengthens
neighborhood leadership and city–community
connections
2
Purpose and Intent of Initiative (4Es)
•Educate neighborhood and civic leaders about basic civics and the City’s
organizational structure and internal operations
•Equip participants with the knowledge, skills, and confidence necessary to
actively represent the interests and needs of their organization by engaging
with decision-makers and advocating for community needs
•Encourage collaboration and partnership between a wide range of community
organizations
•Enhance communication with the City of Virginia Beach and build a network of
informed community partners
3
Pilot Development Goals
•In person, interactive curriculum
•An overview of guiding documents,
services, programs, initiatives and data
reporting
•Provide a deeper understanding of
Virginia Beach municipal operations
•Take-away toolkit of resources
4
Scope of the Pilot
•Conducted Jan. 8 – Feb. 26, 2026, once a week
•Limited to 20 participants
•Sessions led by city staff and subject matter experts and included
interactive elements and experiences
•Binders containing resource materials
5
Assessment and Follow up
•Each session included a short survey for participants covering each
speaker/topic
•Staff notes on the preparation and execution of the pilot
•One-on-one interviews with 9 of the 10 participants after the completion
of the pilot
6
What We Heard
•Participants gained clarity on department roles and city operations; strong
appreciation for presenter expertise and enthusiasm
•Rotating locations and networking opportunities were major strengths
7
•Most impactful content:
•Public Works
•Public Safety
•Planning & Land Use
•Economic Development
•Public Utilities
•Agriculture
What We Heard (cont’d)
•Participants described the Academy as a rewarding, eye-opening, and
engaging experience
•Many expressed that the pilot exceeded expectations
•They valued
•the transparent insight into government operations
•the opportunity to interact directly with City staff
•the ability to contextualize services they previously viewed only from the resident
perspective
8
What We Heard (cont’d)
•Visiting multiple sites enhanced their understanding of the scale and
complexity of City services
•The presence and accessibility of senior leadership—including the City
Manager—reinforced the program’s credibility and underscored the City’s
commitment to collaboration with civic leaders
•Willing to serve as ambassadors for future cohorts
9
Recommended Improvements and Adjustments
•Provide ADA-compliant resource materials on thumb-drive and
consolidate resource lists
•Provide department FY26-27 Budget pages as pre-reads for each
session
•Adjust programmed time to provide a buffer from running late
•Cap attendance at 15
10
Pilot Class
11
Pilot Class
12
City Hall 101:
Civic Leaders
Academy
Class 1
13
2027 Cohorts
Jan. 7 – Mar. 11 Sept. 16 – Nov. 18
Session 1 – Civics 101 & Governance
Session 2 – Public Infrastructure
Session 3 – Planning & Land Use
Session 4 – Public Safety 1
Session 5 – Economic Vitality
14
2027 Cohorts (cont’d)
Session 6 – Quality of Life
Session 7 – Performance & Accountability + Money Matters
Session 8 – Get Involved, Stay Engaged
Session 9 – Public Safety 2 and Communications
Session 10 - Graduation
15
Acknowledgements
•Mayor Dyer
•Councilmember Jackson-Green
•Councilmember Schulman
•City Manager
•City Management Leadership Team
•Communications Office
•Participating Departments
•Office of Volunteer Resources
•City Volunteers
16
Thank you!
Questions?
17