Students Experience Civics Lessons at City Hall 

Rancho Cordova, CA (MPG) - Eighteen high school students are experiencing "Summer at City Hall," a 4-week program funded by the City's Community Enhancement Fund. This professional development program gives students hands-on experience and education regarding how local government works.

Non-profit organization PRO Youth and Families organized the program for incoming high school juniors and seniors who live within the City of Rancho Cordova.

“We are grateful to see the City of Rancho Cordova provide these important opportunities for our youth. If we teach our youth how to be civically engaged residents and to work on their professional skills today, we are preparing them to be Rancho Cordova’s leaders in the future,” said Andrea Tafolla, the Youth Engagement Coordinator for PRO Youth and Families.

Students attend sessions taught by PRO Youth and Families staff twice a week at City Hall to learn professional and personal skills, such as communicating effectively and dressing professionally. City Hall staff as well as Council Member Linda Budge are participating as guest speakers in the local government and civic engagement portion of the sessions, which teaches students the history, structure, and functions of the City.

Eleven of the students are also working as paid part-time interns in different departments at City Hall.

Jessica Crone, Management Technician for the City of Rancho Cordova’s Neighborhood Services Division and one of the City staff members involved in the program said, "Summer at City Hall has been a great experience for students as well as City employees. The program gives students valuable professional skills, and hopefully they will be inspired to work in public service in the future."

Source: City of Rancho Cordova