City staff announced the first Huber Heights Citizens Academy on Nov. 5, a no-cost program designed to familiarize residents with municipal operations and encourage civic engagement.

The program will run from Jan. 29 through Mar. 19, 2026 and consists of seven weekly sessions plus a graduation recognition night. Sarah, who leads community engagement and parks, said sessions will rotate through city facilities and departments and will include presentations and hands-on activities on budgeting, public works, planning, utilities, parks and public safety. The target cohort is 25 residents; staff will ask applicants to identify their ward during selection to encourage geographic representation.

Sarah said the goals are to increase transparency, strengthen connections between residents and staff, and inspire increased volunteerism on boards, commissions and community programs. Promotional outreach begins Nov. 6 and staff will invite councilmembers to attend the graduation.

Why it matters: The program is an outreach and civic-education effort intended to improve resident understanding of municipal decision-making, expand the pool of volunteers and future applicants for boards and commissions, and create local advocates who can better explain city operations.