Leon County Funds Citizen Engagement Programs, The Village Square

The Leon County Commission recently approved the 2025 Citizen Engagement Series, Club of Honest Citizens, and To the Village Square, Inc. events.  In addition, the Commission voted to continue the arrangement with To the Village Square, Inc. (The Village Square), as a component of the County’s significant ongoing engagement efforts.

Funds to organize the Club of Honest Citizens, a Citizen Engagement Series, and The Village Square events are contemplated in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 budget in the amount of $26,500.

In collaboration with The Village Square, the County offers programs throughout the year, including the Created Equal series, Our Town series, and Club of Honest Citizens.  These events have engaged thousands of citizens on issues that matter to the community.  Recently, the Our Town series expanded its reach through broadcasts on radio, television, and social media platforms.

In FY 2024, the County continued to collaborate with local organizations to provide dynamic and engaging programming.  A key example was the work with the Knight Creative Communities Institute (KCCI) to implement the Crosswalks to Classrooms initiative on Dempsey Mayo Road.  This project elevated three crosswalks near W.T. Moore Elementary School and the Westminster Oaks Retirement Community with colorful designs to promote pedestrian safety.

Events such as the 2024 Tallahassee Town Hall gave citizens direct access to their elected officials, while the Citizen Engagement Series offered opportunities for public discussion and input.  Additionally, the County hosted the Library Lecture Series, partnered with KCCI on featuring public art projects, and organized a disaster-focused Citizen Engagement Series, among other initiatives.  These efforts positioned citizens as co-creators, empowering them to contribute their talents to important community decisions.

Over the past year, Leon County hosted or co-hosted more than 10 citizen engagement events, drawing over 2,000 participants.  Beyond these activities, the County continues to offer multiple ways for citizens to provide input throughout the year via the County’s website, social media channels, citizen advisory committees, and other engagement platforms.