Residents invited to learn about local government with Leavenworth Civics Academy

LEAVENWORTH — In an effort to boost public understanding and engagement in local government, the City of Leavenworth will offer a Civics Academy in 2026. Over six sessions, it plans to educate participants on everything from decision-making and budgeting to department functions and collaboration with other agencies.

“Ultimately, the aim of the Civics Academy is to strengthen trust, transparency, and collaboration between the City and the people it serves,” said City of Leavenworth Executive Assistant Courtney Porter.

Porter said the city’s goal for the academy is to give participants a practical, accessible way to understand how local government really works. Participants will have a chance to build relationships with city staff, ask questions in a low-pressure environment, and gain insight into the day-to-day operations.

“City processes can seem complicated from the outside, and most people only interact with government when there’s a problem or a decision they disagree with,” said Porter. “We hope to shift that dynamic by opening the doors—literally and figuratively—to how decisions are made, how services are delivered, and how different departments and agencies work together.”

The sessions will cover city management, finance & budgets, public works & infrastructure, community development, planning & zoning, public safety, and parks, pool & recreation. Through interactive discussions, hands-on activities and Q&A sessions, participants will learn directly from city staff and elected officials, as well as some of the city’s partner agencies.

For instance, the public safety session will include partners from Chelan County Sheriff’s Office, Chelan County Fire District #3, Chelan County Emergency Management and Cascade Medical. Porter added that the city is hoping to add Chelan County Commissioner staff for the city management session, in order to help participants learn about the relationship between city and county.

The Leavenworth Civics Academy will be limited to 20 participants, who must be at least 16 years of age and live within city limits, the Urban Growth Area (UGA), or the Cascade School District boundary. 

“Much like voting, many Civics Academies require participants to be city residents. At the same time, we recognize that our community extends beyond those boundaries, and we want voices and representation from those areas too,” said Porter.

The city will also reserve two spots for Cascade High School students, which Porter says will provide a valuable, early understanding of local governments and how policy decisions directly shape their community.

“The Academy creates opportunities to build leadership skills, connect classroom learning to real-world issues, and see some potential career paths in public service, planning, engineering, public safety, and more,” said Porter.

The Leavenworth Civics Academy will meet six times from February to April next year, with three optional events planned for May 2026. The sessions will be held on the second and fourth Monday evening of each month, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Because space is limited, interested residents must apply to the academy by Dec. 23. Admission will be provided to eligible applicants on a first-come, first-accepted basis. The city will notify all applicants of their admission status by January 2026. To find more information or apply for the civics academy, visit cityofleavenworth.com/community/civics-academy/.

“This is our inaugural year and we anticipate learning ways to improve the program, too. At the completion of the Academy, more immediate success will be measured by the satisfaction of the participants. Long-term success will be measured by ongoing and increased levels of civic engagement within our community,” said Porter.

Taylor Caldwell: 509-433-7276 or taylor@ward.media