SALEM – Mayor Dominick Pangallo and the City of Salem are launching the next round of the Salem City Academy, and Salem residents are invited to apply for this year’s cohort. The Salem City Academy provides an educational opportunity for Salem residents to visit municipal offices and learn how local government works. Program participants will get the opportunity to see municipal government at work up close and meet one-on-one with department heads and other City staff.
Modeled on similar civic academies offered by the Salem Police Department and the Salem Fire Department, Salem City Academy is intended to increase civic participation and engagement among residents who may not normally access local government or who wish to better understand how City Hall functions, and is intentional about including recent immigrants and community members who speak Spanish.
“The City has long made efforts to include our community’s Spanish speakers and immigrants,” said Constituent Services Director Julio Mota, who oversees the SCA. “This program is adding to that work by being deliberate about bringing more people from those communities into the fold. Past sessions have been fantastic. Our participants have been so enthusiastic and eager to learn more.”
“This was a magnificent idea, getting to be so close to the city and Mayor’s office,” said Juana Canela, a recent participant in the Salem City Academy and a Salem resident and longtime employee of the Dominican Republic. “More so for us who are arriving here from all over the world. Here is where we’re building our lives, working, getting into local culture. They’ve offered their services, which we deserve to know about and are very, very grateful.”
“Salem City Academy is designed to help residents, especially new residents and those who come from historically underserved communities, connect to and understand their local government,” added Mayor Pangallo, “We’re striving to better connect residents with their municipal government, so they’re able to access all of the services, programs, and information that we provide. We work hard and intentionally to open doors to City Hall for everyone in our community. Salem City Academy is another measure in that ongoing effort to improve transparency, accessibility, and equity in the delivery of City services and the operation of Salem’s local government. I’m grateful to Julio Mota for his leadership in continuing this important program, and to all City Departments for taking the time to engage with the participants of this program.”
Throughout the coming Summer months, SCA participants will meet with several City departments, including visits to the Department of Public Services, Park & Recreation, Planning Department, Building Inspectors, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Engineering, Traffic and Parking, and more. Anyone interested in applying to this cohort of Salem City Academy should please reach out to Julio Mota at (978) 619-5601 or jmota@salem.com.
