DeBary Citizens Academy graduates seventh class, builds civic engagement

DeBary marked the graduation of its seventh Citizens Academy class at the June 3 City Council meeting, adding another cohort to a program the city has used to build a more informed and engaged public. More than 175 residents have completed the academy since it began in 2021, giving the city a record it can point to as it tries to move residents from passive observers to active participants in local government.

The 2026 class met on Tuesday evenings from April 14 through June 2, with sessions running from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Participants had to attend all eight classes to graduate, and the city says absences are considered only case by case. Graduates received a certificate, and earlier city promotional material said they also receive a special key pin.

The curriculum was built around the day-to-day machinery of city life. Residents heard about how DeBary government is organized, parks and recreation programs, and public safety work through sessions with the Sheriff’s Office and Fire Department. They also met with Team Volusia, Tax Collector Will Roberts, Duke Energy, WastePro, Visit West Volusia, the DeBary Foundation, the Clerk of the Court, DeBary Hall and the St. Johns River to Sea Loop, a lineup that tied city hall to the countywide and regional systems that shape services in West Volusia.

The city’s Residents page says the academy is designed to help people better understand their role in city government and may prepare them for public service or leadership roles in their neighborhoods, boards or community groups. Graduates also met with each council member and with Volusia County Council member David Santiago, giving the class direct access to the people making decisions that affect zoning, services and public priorities in DeBary.

The presentation took place during a regular meeting of the five-member DeBary City Council, which includes the mayor. Regular council meetings begin at 6:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month, with special meetings on the third Wednesday, a schedule that places the academy recognition squarely in the city’s public decision-making rhythm rather than as a separate ceremonial event. The city says Citizens Academy is offered each spring, with next year’s dates announced at the beginning of 2027.