Work Session Request: UAG City Life and City Life Alumni Program Presentation and Recommendations Copyrighted
May 4, 2026
City of Dubuque ACTION ITEMS # 6.
City Council
ITEM TITLE: Work Session Request: iJAG City Life and City Life Alumni
Program Presentation and Recommendations.
SUMMARY: City Manager recommending City Council schedule a Work
Session for May 18, 2026, at 5:15 pm for Spring 2026 iJAG
City Life and City Life Alumni Program Presentation and
Recommendations.
SUGGUESTED Receive and File; Council
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
1. MVM Memo Work Session Request for Spring 2026 iJAG City Life & City Life
Alumni Program Presentation and recommendations (1)
2. Request for Work Session City Life Program (2)
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Dubuque
THE CITY OF �
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TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Work Session Request for Spring 2026 iJAG City Life & City Life Alumni
Program Presentation and Recommendations
DATE: April 30, 2026
Community Impact and Neighborhood Support Director Antonio Mouzon is
recommending City Council schedule a Work Session for May 18, 2026, at 5:15 pm for
Spring 2026 iJAG City Life and City Life Alumni Program Presentation and
Recommendations.
The presentation would include:
• Reflections from iJAG high school students and Adult City Life alumni regarding
their experience in the program;
• Key lessons and takeaways participants gained about local government and civic
engagement;
• Discussion on how the program shifted or strengthened their understanding of
the community and their role within it;
• Recommendations and ideas participants would like to share with City Council
related to communication, engagement, accessibility, and resident involvement.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
Mich el C. Van Milligen
MCVM:sv
Attachment
cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager
Antonio Mouzon, Community Impact and Neighborhood Support Director
Page 661 of 668
Dubuque
THE CITY OF �
ul-A�eria Cit�
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Masterpiece on the Mississippi Z°°'�Z°lZ
2013•2017
TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Antonio J. Mouzon, Community Impact & Neighborhood Support Director
SUBJECT: Work Session Request for Spring 2026 iJAG City Life & City Life Alumni
Program Presentation and recommendations
DATE: April 30th, 2026
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this memorandum is to request approval for a work session for current
iJAG high school students on May 18, 2026 from 5:15 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
High School students and Adult City Life alumni will present and share their program
experiences, discuss insights gained about local government and community, and
provide feedback and recommendations to City Council.
BACKGROUND
City Life was developed as a community engagement and civic learning initiative
designed to increase understanding of local government, strengthen relationships
between residents and City staff, and create intentional opportunities for transparency,
trust-building, and meaningful civic participation. Through the program, participants
engage directly with City departments, staff, community leaders, and local decision-
making processes.
While both programs share a similar foundation centered around civic engagement,
relationship-building, transparency, and exposure to local government, the student and
adult City Life programs are designed with different outcomes and engagement
pathways in mind.
The iJAG City Life program serves as a work-based learning experience focused on
career exposure and workforce development opportunities within local government and
the broader community. Through the program, students engage with City staff and
community partners to learn about career pathways, job shadowing opportunities,
internships, employment opportunities, leadership development, and ways to become
involved in the community. The experience is intended to help students better
understand potential career interests while also increasing their awareness of how local
government impacts daily life and community well-being.
Page 662 of 668
The Adult City Life program focuses on civic engagement and community leadership
development by connecting residents to opportunities for ongoing involvement within
the City of Dubuque. Participants learn about City operations, departments, services,
and decision-making processes while exploring opportunities to serve on Boards and
Commissions, participate in Neighborhood Associations, apply for employment
opportunities, volunteer, and engage more actively with City initiatives and community
efforts.
Participants across both programs consistently report increased confidence in engaging
with local government, a stronger understanding of City services and processes, and a
deeper sense of connection to the Dubuque community. The programs also continue to
support the City's broader goals of strengthening relationships between government
and residents by creating spaces for dialogue, accessibility, transparency, and authentic
community engagement.
DISCUSSION
This memorandum proposes a City Council Work Session presentation on Monday,
May 18, 2026, from 5:15 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. to provide City Life participants with the
opportunity to share directly with Council.
The presentation would include:
• Reflections from iJAG high school students and Adult City Life alumni regarding
their experience in the program;
• Key lessons and takeaways participants gained about local government and civic
engagement;
• Discussion on how the program shifted or strengthened their understanding of
the community and their role within it;
• Recommendations and ideas participants would like to share with City Council
related to communication, engagement, accessibility, and resident involvement.
This presentation would allow Council to hear directly from residents and students who
spent significant time learning from City staff, engaging in community conversations,
and building a deeper understanding of local government. It also highlights the City's
continued commitment to civic engagement, youth leadership development, and
creating authentic opportunities for residents to participate in local decision-making
processes.
Creating space for participants to share their experiences publicly reinforces the value
of relationship-centered engagement and demonstrates the impact of investing in civic
education and community leadership development.
ACTION REQUESTED
2
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I respectively request approval for a City Council Work Session on May 18, 2026, at
5:15 p.m., where High School iJAG students and Adult City Life alumni will share their
experiences, discuss their learning, reflect on the impact of the program, and offer
feedback and recommendations to City Council.
3
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