It’s easy to take for granted everything Woodbury has to offer. Whether it’s the City Council or local government, public works or public safety, sometimes we forget all the work that goes into the everyday services that make our city tick.
The Woodbury Citizens’ Academy (WCA) offers community members a unique chance to get to know their city. The program, which encourages a $50 donation from participants, is sponsored by the Woodbury Community Foundation, city of Woodbury and Woodbury Lions Club. It runs eight weeks with a different session each week (government, economic development, Woodbury history, diversity, local media and more). “The goal is to train volunteers for the community,” says Claudia Millington, WCA program director and member of the board of directors. “The program expands the knowledge of citizens and they gain understanding of local government and the public and private sectors.”
We spoke to three members of the 2015 Citizens’ Academy to learn more about their experience.
Nancy Wagner
Nancy Wagner has spent her career working in business development and sales. Having lived in Woodbury for eight years, she wanted to get more involved in the community last fall. She joined the business development committee, part of the City Council; from the mayor, she learned about the WCA and signed up.
“There are a lot of cities that don’t have citizen interaction, and the more people who understand how things work, the better off we’ll be,” Wagner says.
Wagner’s favorite part of the program was seeing the public safety building and public works. “It makes your local police and all the local people serving the community more real to you,” Wagner says. She adds that the classes are also a great way to meet other people in Woodbury and get out and experience the community.
Marko Kamel
After graduating from dental school in Minnesota, Marko Kamel made the permanent move from his previous hometown of Los Angeles to Woodbury. Up until 2011, he was commuting from Woodbury to Albert Lea every day before opening his own practice, Woodbury Dental Arts. He signed up for the WCA to become more involved with the community. “I’ve been trying to get involved with the community quite a bit since I started my practice,” Kamel says. “I love Woodbury as a community. It has everything you need.”
Kamel found out about the program through a business networking group, and it has been a great way for him to discover more about the city. He says he learned about how government works from the mayor and City Council members and about planned expansions for the city. “It’s just amazing to see how the city is run, and how it keeps getting better and attracting more business,” Kamel says.
The best part about the program for Kamel was seeing the food shelf and getting involved with volunteer opportunities in the city he loves.
Holton Sailer
The WCA isn’t just for local business owners and leaders; it also offers opportunities for younger community members. Holton Sailer, a senior at East Ridge High School, got involved with the program after hearing about it from his assistant principal.
Sailer participated in a business professionals club at school and also started his own business working on landscaping and outdoor work during the summer. Building his own business has fostered his interest in the greater business community, and in learning more about Woodbury.
One thing that Sailer enjoyed was learning about the history of Woodbury. Having been born in the 1990s, Woodbury was mostly developed by the time he was born so he really liked finding out more about the town. “I love history, and knowing history that is so personal is really cool,” Sailer says.
Woodbury Citizens’ Academy
The Woodbury Citizens’ Academy meets Thursdays from February 18 to April 14, 6:30 to 9 p.m.
