As Victoria’s bicentennial year begins, it’s only natural for Victorians to spend time thinking about where we’re headed as a community, as well as how they can help us get there. The City of Victoria encourages residents to practice informed and engaged citizenship, and we can help give you the tools you need to get involved.
One of the ways we help residents become active participants in their local government is through our educational programs. The City of Victoria Communications & Public Affairs, the Victoria Fire Department and the Victoria Police Department each host programs that help residents learn about different aspects of local government.
The City encourages residents to complete all three and earn the title of distinguished citizen. Distinguished citizens receive a plaque and are recognized at a City Council meeting for their commitment to education and self-improvement. Many distinguished citizens go on to serve on boards and commissions, run for City Council or get involved in other ways.
Because of how well our educational programs complement each other, we want to make it easy for residents to complete all three if they choose. The programs are scheduled at different times of the year, which means an ambitious resident looking to secure the distinguished citizen title could complete all three in one year: starting with Citizens Academy, then completing the Civilian Police Academy and the Civilian Responder Program, and finally being recognized at Council the same year along with other distinguished citizens.
Below is some more information about each of the educational programs:
- Citizens Academy (Communications & Public Affairs): This program provides a broad overview of many different City departments, as well as some of our partner agencies. Residents will be able to learn about local government directly from our City leaders, ask questions and participate in guided tours of City facilities.
- Civilian Police Academy (Victoria Police Department): Participants will learn about the work of the Victoria Police Department through informational sessions and hands-on activities. Topics include building searches, firearm safety, crime scene searches, traffic stops, K-9 tactics and SWAT.
- Civilian Responder Program (Victoria Fire Department): Participants in this program will get a firsthand experience of fire services/EMS, and they’ll get to learn lifesaving first aid skills. Topics include fire truck and ambulance familiarization, hands-only CPR, Epi-Pen and Narcan administration and car extrication (Jaws of Life).
In addition, each of the programs has an active alumni association, providing participants with further opportunities for education and community involvement.
When you pursue the distinguished citizen path, you’re setting yourself up to play an active role in our city’s bright future. Any one of these programs will help you along the path to becoming a more informed and engaged citizen—and once you’ve completed one, you’ll likely be inclined to keep going until you’ve earned the title of distinguished citizen!
To learn more about each of our educational programs, visit the departments’ respective webpages (www.victoriatx.gov/communications, www.victoriatx.gov/fire, www.victoriatx.gov/police). To find out when applications open for each program, and to stay up to date with all City-related news, visit www.victoriatx.gov/newsroom.
Ashley Strevel is the director of Communications & Public Affairs for the City of Victoria.