Renton, WA— City Hall was filled with cheers and applause Monday evening as Renton celebrated the graduation of its Civic Academy, a free eight-week program that gives residents an inside scoop at how their city government works, really.
More than thirty residents graduated at the ceremony, with two cohorts completing the program this year— bringing the total number of Civic Academy graduates to around sixty. Family members, friends, city staff and volunteers packed the room to celebrate. The city provided food, desserts, and beverages for the graduates and their guests.
Each graduate was given a certificate and an award demonstrating their completion of the program. Mayor Pavone individually shook each their hands as they received their diplomas, which came in a navy blue folder bearing the city’s seal.
The program takes participants through the full breadth of city operations, one department at a time. Over eight weeks, residents meet with staff from departments spanning committees, commissions, the Renton Police Department, the municipal court, and more. Civic Academy residents get a ground-level view of the people and processes that keep the city running.
Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Kristi Rowland, who called the Academy her “dream since 2011,” told the graduates that the experience is just a starting point. “This is just an introduction,” Rowland said of the staff working across its departments. “Now you have faces and names for the subject matter experts.”
The Mayor and City Council recognized the graduates during the council meeting which took place immediately afterwards. Rowland noted during her presentation, “We pull the curtain back and invite people in to see the good work that the city’s doing everyday.” She emphasizes that it’s more than the classes that provide insight. “It’s not the presentations,” she said of a conversation she overheard. “It’s the discussions afterward that are really really valuable. And that’s something both our staff and the community members get to enjoy.”
The interest has been strong. Both cohorts saw roughly two applicants for every available seat, a sign that Renton residents are eager to engage with their local government. Thirty-five city staff members participated in facilitating the program.
Pavone recognized Outreach Director Casey King, her team, and all participating city staff for their work running the Academy’s weekly sessions and graduation ceremony. The Civic Academy launched in 2025 and is open to Renton residents at no cost. The city plans to begin advertising for the next cohort at the start of next year.
