The City Academy offers a fresh perspective on government.
The 2024 session will be hybrid and in person, with 7 online sessions that you can do at your own pace and 4 in-person sessions to discuss what you have learned, learn about specific City of Rockville departments, and connect with some of the key staff that make the city run.
Participants will interact online and in person with ”We the People: Civic Engagement in a Constitutional Democracy,” a Harvard University course through eDX (a platform created by Harvard and MIT). This online course is built on more than 10 years of academic research through the Democratic Knowledge Project, an initiative of the Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics at Harvard University.
Participants will attend sessions designed to gain a foundational knowledge of American constitutional democracy and understand how to encourage others to explore their own civic paths, while in parallel crafting their own civic voice and identity. Sessions will also provide an understanding of how the City of Rockville operates by putting a spotlight on specific areas and services.
The City Academy will take place in the spring of 2024, with sessions from 7-9 p.m. on Tuesdays and a Saturday tour from 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
MCPS students can earn up to 14 SSL hours by attending all the sessions and presenting a community project.
Topics will include:
- Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion principles
- Understanding the City of Rockville government
- How to encourage others to explore their own civic paths
- How to develop your civic voice
- Rights and responsibilities
- Constitutionalism
- Foundations of democracy
- Levers of change
- Community policing
- Housing and community development
- Public Works and Environmental Management Division
Requirements
- Must be 16 years old or older
- Must be able to attend most sessions
Guidelines for Student Participation and SSL Hours
- Students attending all the sessions can earn up to 14 SSL hours. 6 hours are earned for attending the 4 in-person sessions and 10 hours are earned for writing a reflection of the academy that will include a service action plan to advocate for a change within the community or spread awareness about Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.
- In case the student cannot participate in all the sessions, they could request SSL hours for individual attendance which will be equivalent to 1.5 SSL hours per session.
- Students under 18 years old will need to have permission from their guardians and sign a waiver that will be provided immediately after registration. Students who do not provide this waiver will be unable to participate.
- Students must use personal/private accounts (not MCPS student accounts) to sign up.
- The sessions will not be recorded so attendance and participation the day of each session is important to receive the SSL hours.
If you are interested in participating and have accessibility requirements, including access to a computer, please email hcordero@rockvillemd.gov. Montgomery Connects has a Computer For You program that offers free computers to Montgomery County residents.
Register for the 2024 Rockville City Academy
2024 Event Schedule
The City Academy is four sessions. The sessions last no more than two hours.
| Session | Date | Subject |
|---|---|---|
| Session 1 | Tuesday, April 9, 2024 7:00 p.m. Rockville City Hall 111 Maryland Ave. |
Understanding the City of Rockville Government: You will learn how the city operates, how decisions are made, and how to voice your opinion and get involved. Learn principles of Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. |
| Session 2 | Tuesday, April 23, 2024 7:00 p.m. Rockville City Hall 111 Maryland Ave. |
Housing and Community Development: You will learn from those who provide services to the vulnerable in our community how the city is helping individuals to maximize access to opportunities, helping families and children, affordable housing, and how you can be part of transforming lives. |
| Session 3 | Saturday, May 11, 2024 9:45 a.m. Rockville City Hall 111 Maryland Ave. |
Learn all about Public Works: You will learn how the city is helping the community and the environment. Learn about our water system and more. |
| Session 4 | Tuesday, May 21, 2024 7:00 p.m. Rockville Police Station 2 W Montgomery Ave. |
Learn all about our Police department and the way we do policing in Rockville. |
This opportunity is available for student volunteers to earn SSL hours. Student participation in this service project is at the discretion of the student’s parent/guardian and must be completed outside of school hours. Parents/guardians should contact the nonprofit organization directly with any questions and/or concerns. The nonprofit is responsible for maintaining student safety and privacy at any time the student is interacting with the nonprofit and its clients. The nonprofit will determine the number of SSL hours awarded based on the evidence submitted. For SSL hours to be added to a student’s record, students must submit MCPS Form 560-51, Student Service Learning Activity Verification Form, to the school SSL coordinator by the due dates on the form (no later than the first Friday in June), which can be found at bit.ly/SSLReflection. Students will need to complete sections 1 and 3 of MCPS Form 560-51 in full. In lieu of section 2 of MCPS Form 560-51, students should attach the “SSL Hour Form” completed and provided to the student by the City of Rockville supervisor.
