Thrive Academy Graduates Ready to Make a Difference

This past Monday, December 11, the Fall 2023 Excelsior Springs Thrive Citizens Leadership Academy cohort met at the Community Center to mark the completion of the seven-week course. The event celebrated the culmination of an intensive program skillfully led by program director Kim Halfhill and backed by a team of local organizations and civic leaders.

The latest cadre of graduates—Elizabeth Barnt, Thomas Noftzger, Brad Rice, Melissa Bartlett, Nicole Davis, Cora Boothe, Vicki Culbertson, Lisette Wagner, Chad Wagner, Anita Renne, and Trish Guarino—have each advanced through a series of interactive sessions designed to enhance their leadership acumen and community engagement.

The academy’s curriculum is enlightening, entertaining, and rigorous, encompassing a sequence of field trips and interactive learning modules that span critical community concerns such as public health initiatives, economic revitalization strategies, educational frameworks, housing and development policies, and the intricacies of municipal works. The intent of the program is to foster a comprehensive understanding of how Excelsior Springs operates, empowering participants to become agents of progress within the community.

At the graduation, the participants could reflect on what they’d learned in the Citizens Leadership Academy. “I guess I just took for granted how things happen. Over the past weeks, my perception has changed, and I see it’s a lot of hard work and a lot of dedicated people who are committed to making this a wonderful place for everyone,” said Trish Guarino. “I thought I knew Excelsior, but this whole process has shown me there’s a second layer of what’s here … It’s just amazing to me,” added Cora Boothe.

Aspiring leaders eager to join the next cohort and contribute to the civic discourse are encouraged to monitor the Excelsior Springs Thrive Facebook Page for enrollment and program commencement updates.

You can read our previous coverage of the Citizen’s Academy here.