As part of the June 24 City Commission Meeting, the City of Paducah held a ceremony to honor the 24 graduates of the Paducah Citizens’ Academy, Your Passport to City Government. The Academy offered participants an in-depth look at how local government works through a free, interactive program held on nine consecutive Thursday evenings beginning April 17. The Academy is a mixture of classroom instruction, hands-on activities, site visits, and tours.
The 24 graduates of the 2025 Paducah Citizens’ Academy are as follows in alphabetical order: Kelly Alsip; Rebecca Alsip; Hanna Carrico; Gerard Dages; Jennifer Davis; Madalyn Davis; Sam Davis; Chris Dockins; Leighia Eggett; Katie Flowers; Andrew Hunt; Mary Lamble; Dana McAfee; Jason McHaney; Amanda McIntosh; Lauren McMackin; Sharon Mumford; Joel Quimby; Jill Slayden; Dan Stayton; Julie Stayton; Jennifer Swanson; Joseph Taylor; and Amie Tooley.
The Academy was last held in 2020; however, the City paused that session after the first evening due to the COVID-19 pandemic. City Clerk and Director of Customer Experience Lindsay Parish coordinated this year’s Academy along with Senior Customer Experience Representative Cathy Bryant-Quimby.
Parish said, “Bringing back the Citizens’ Academy in 2025 has been a true community effort. I’m incredibly proud of the engagement from our residents and the enthusiasm they’ve shown in learning how their local government works. This program wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication of Customer Experience Representative Cathy Bryant-Quimby and the collaboration of departments across the City. It’s a testament to our commitment to transparency, service, and strengthening the connection between City Hall and the people we serve.”
“It has been an absolute pleasure to facilitate the 2025 Citizens’ Academy,” said Bryant-Quimby. “I’ve had the opportunity to connect with an incredible group of individuals, and through each session, I’ve gained a deeper appreciation and understanding of “My Paducah” and the vital work carried out by our city departments. If you haven’t experienced the Citizens’ Academy, I encourage you participate in the 2026 program. It’s an enriching and informative journey that offers valuable insight into the heart of our local government.”
Below are quotes from three participants of this year’s academy:
Dana McAfee: Have your ever wondered why the city government does things a certain way? Well, your questions will be answered by enrolling in the Paducah Citizens’ Academy. I highly recommend spending two hours per week for nine weeks learning the inner-workings of our city government. It’s well worth the sacrifice of your time and effort. Each session is an enlightening combination of classroom time, hands-on activities, tours, and site visits.
Joseph Taylor: I would like to thank the City of Paducah for putting this together. I enjoyed each class, and I learned a lot of information. I really enjoyed the KEEPING YOU SAFE session - how they work together, training involved, and going up in the ladder truck. Also, I enjoyed the SERVING WITH PRIDE session because of the service that these men and women do for our city. They put their lives on the line every single day. This whole experience has been eye-opening.
Amie Tooley: Participating in the Paducah Citizens’ Academy gave me an incredible behind-the-scenes look at not only the processes our city has in place but also the people who lead them. I gained new perspectives by observing city operations in action and engaging directly through interactive sessions. I leave this experience more informed, inspired, and proud to call Paducah home.
Academy topics for the 2025 session included the following:
- City Government 101 (Administration, City Clerk, Customer Experience, Grants, and Communications)
- Keeping You Safe (Fire Department)
- Serving with Pride (Police Department and E911)
- Always Something to Do (Parks & Recreation Department)
- Dollars and Sensibility (Finance Department)
- Internal Services (Technology and Human Resources departments)
- Streets, Streams, and Strategies (Engineering Department)
- Basic Necessities (Public Works Department)
- Building for Tomorrow (Planning Department)
The program is free to participants; however, class size is limited. Individuals 16 years of age and older who live, work, or attend school in Paducah-McCracken County are encouraged to apply. The dates for the 2026 Academy have not been set at this time. Learn more by visiting Paducah Citizens' Academy.
Photo: The Paducah Board of Commissioners and City staff recognized the Paducah Citizens’ Academy graduates at the June 24 City Commission meeting. A few of the participants were not able to attend the ceremony.
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