LITTLE ROCK, AR -- For the past three months, over thirty people have gathered each Monday night to learn more about Little Rock and city government.



“The focus of the Citizens Academy was to educate citizens about the daily workings of City Hall. Government can be viewed as bureaucratic and overly regulatory,” said Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola.



Men and women, whose age range from 16 to 60ish and who represent a variety of races, backgrounds, and neighborhoods, were participants in the first class of the Little Rock Citizens Academy (LRCA).



“The goal of the LRCA is to let people see challenges and opportunities of local government,” said City Manager Bruce T. Moore.



The Citizens Academy graduation took place at the beginning of the City Board Meeting on Tuesday, June 17, 2008.



LRCA graduates include, Lori Berry, Juan Bustamante, Doris Clay, Odessa Darrough, Kinsey Daven, Acquenette Davis, Robert Dudley, Beth Garison, Verline Goins, David Hare, Jane Harrison, Julie Hendrix, Chris Hiryak, Holly Hiryak, Vic Hiryak, Jeanne Housley, Lance Jones, Manuel Jones, Terry Lewis, Sabra Miller, Sam O'Bryant, Ashley Olinghouse, Amy Pierce, Wanda Phillips, Mark Robertson, Dolly Smith, Beth Smith, Quinton Smith, Gina Talley, Karen Westbrook, Warren Woodham, Barbara Yates, and Sarah Yates.