Participants Go ‘All In’ at Lebanon’s Citizens Academy

Corinne Alfeld

After moving from Silver Spring, Maryland, to West Lebanon in 2021, Corinne Alfeld and her husband, Greg Ericksen, wanted to get involved in the community and learn more about their local government. The Lebanon Citizens Academy provided the perfect solution.

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“Because New England states are run so differently from other states I’ve lived in, and because I was interested in how a small city operates, I jumped at the chance to participate in the Lebanon Citizens Academy,” said Alfeld. “After the first session, I was so excited about what I was learning that I convinced my husband to attend, as well.”

Participants met weekly to learn about different city departments, such as City Management, Library Services, Public Safety, and Recreation and Parks Services.

“It was a great group of people, mostly long-time residents but some newcomers, and a range of ages,” said Alfeld. “The employees of the City of Lebanon were all so knowledgeable about their areas. The expertise of the water management staff was especially impressive! And did you know that Lebanon has 99 miles of roads to upkeep?”

“I feel really lucky to live in a place with such dedicated city employees, who keep everything running smoothly,” Alfeld said. “Residents sometimes complain about things, but they don’t know how much work—including budgeting, planning, and implementation—goes into it. I remind myself of that every time I see road work or hydrant flushing going on around the city.”

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Alfeld emphasized the importance of showing up to each session. “There is so much to learn, and the staff takes time to prepare and be there after hours to provide detailed information about what they do and how they help your city,” she said. “The second piece of advice is to ask questions! Sometimes the most interesting parts of the session were the staff’s answers to participant questions.”

After completing the 2024 Citizens Academy, Alfeld joined the West Lebanon Revitalization Committee in 2025, which has recently focused on repairs to the pipes, roads, and sidewalks on South Main Street. City residents are welcome to attend any of the various Lebanon committee meetings virtually or in person. A calendar and information about meeting access can be found at lebanonnh.gov/1359/Lebanon-Live-Meetings.

Andrew Faunce

Andrew volunteers for the city in many capacities in his retirement

Andrew Faunce was already involved in the local community in several ways when he enrolled in the Lebanon Citizens Academy, a series of educational, hands-on courses that provides residents with insight into city departments and civic affairs. He volunteers and is a member of the board at AVA Gallery and Art Center, he is chair of the Lebanon Planning Board, and he serves on the Lebanon Housing Task Force and the West Lebanon Revitalization Advisory Committee. “On my retirement, I became invested in volunteering for the city in any capacity that I can,” he said.

His participation in the Lebanon Citizens Academy gave him an even greater appreciation for how the local city government operates. “It really introduced me to how much a relatively small set of city staff does on behalf of the residents,” he said. “I have a tremendous respect for what’s offered here.”

Some of the highlights his cohort experienced included meeting with the Police Department and learning about the K-9 Unit, operating a fire hose and participating in a mock live fire drill with the Fire Department, and visiting the Solid Waste and Recycling Facility and creating a mini landfill out of clay, stones, sand and water.

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In addition to learning about city operations, he also gained a better understanding of the people on the municipal team.

“There’s lots of ways that folks can not only learn about the departments, but also experience the sorts of things that the folks that work in those departments get to experience, and it just gives you a new perspective on some of your neighbors,” he said.

He noted that the Citizens Academy is a good way to learn more about issues affecting residents and to make contacts to check in with later on. “It’s an advantage of being in a relatively small community, where you can get to know the people that are making the decisions that affect your experience,” he said.

Faunce’s advice for other Lebanon residents considering the Citizens Academy? “If you’ve heard about it and are on the fence about it, by all means apply for it, commit to it,” he said. “It’s a really great experience.”

More information about joining the 2026 Citizens Academy can be found at lebanonnh.gov/220/About-Citizens-Academy.