History
Encompassing 709 square miles,
Chatham is one of the larger of
North Carolina’s 100 counties.
It is also one of the faster
growing. Such geographical size
and burgeoning population
provides special challenges for
our system of government.
Fortunately, numerous
not-for-profit agencies and
organizations (far more than are
found in most other NC counties)
exist to assist local government
in serving the populace.
Chatham Citizens for Effective
Communities – Institute, Inc.
is one such non-profit group
that seeks to empower citizens
to enhance Chatham’s future
through educational programs
such as Citizen’s College. In
cooperation with Chatham County
government and the office of the
County Manager, it launched
"Citizens’ College: How
Government Works"
in the spring of 2006.
Facilitated by CCEC –
Institute’s Rita Spina and
Assistant County Manager Renee
Paschal, the course took
students on "field trips" around
the county to meet on site with
key staff people who form the
"behind-the-scenes" team that
manages and coordinates all the
work of government. By the end
of the weekly sessions, students
were impressed by the amount of
work accomplished, and by the
abilities of those who manage
their tasks in the face of ever
increasing demands.
Students were also concerned
about finding ways and means of
bridging the gaps that separate
the diverse population spread
across Chatham’s large
geographic footprint. The
program’s promotion of citizen
input on matters vital to the
health and well-being of the
entire county, along with more
opportunities for citizens to
become better informed about key
issues and how government
manages them, are but two means
toward that end.
A wish expressed by many
students is that more citizens
take advantage of Citizens’
College to interact with their
governmental leaders. It is the
kind of "core curriculum" that
can benefit every citizen, as
attested to by those who have
completed the course. All
participants expressed
appreciation for government
leaders who give of their time
and talents to work for and work
with citizens. And all agreed
that as citizens get to know
their leaders, they feel
empowered to work along side
them to assist in doing what it
takes to enhance Chatham’s
future.
Schedule of Sessions
THE
NEXT SESSION
OF CITIZENS COLLEGE
WILL BEGIN ON
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY
4TH, 2010 AND
CONTINUE EACH
THURSDAY THROUGH MARCH
18TH FROM 6:30 - 9
PM.
Special sessions for
specific groups are
occasionally
scheduled based upon
need and
availability of
resources. An
example of such
scheduling is the
sessions held for
students of Jordan
Matthews High School
in Siler City during
the fall of 2008.
For more information
on this program,
please
click here.
