Thrive Excelsior Launches Local Citizens Academy
Thrive Excelsior is made up of residents and leaders from across the Excelsior Springs community that have a role to play in fostering a thriving community, deriving from the Communities of Excellence Assessment and Recognition Program. Working in various committees, participants use statistical information through various local studies and surveys to find solutions to local problems. In an attempt to educate future leaders and provide an opportunity for citizens to learn the inner-workings of the community, the organization is offering a Citizen Leadership Academy. The first group to kick off the academy met on Wednesday, March 23rd at the Excelsior Springs Community Center.
In addition to getting to know each other, there was a leadership panel that agreed to answering questions in regard to their role in the community. Panelists included Kristen DeHart, CEO of Excelsior Springs Hospital, Molly McGovern, Excelsior Springs City Manager, Martha Buckman, retired Director of Good Samaritan Center, and Dr. Travis Hux, Superintendent of Excelsior Springs School District. Questions asked pertained to those in leadership roles, asking about long-term planning, challenges faced, strategies to adapt when needed, and what they love about working in the community.
While the first month of the academy is focused on Community Leadership, the program lasts a total of six months and has a different focus of the community each month. Subjects include Community Leadership, Community Health and Wellness, Economic Development and Education, Housing and Public Works, Community Service, and Capstone. The cohort will also complete three designated experiential learning activities prior to the end of the academy. One of those activities will be a service project that the group as a whole will have to decide on and conduct by the end of the academy.
Excelsior Springs is the first community in the nation to receive silver recognition through the Communities of Excellence program. This is the highest level of recognition currently awarded through the program. To learn more about Thrive Excelsior or the Communities of Excellence program, please visit the City’s website.
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