From City Hall to Crisis Response: CEO Students See Leadership in Action
Last Monday (just one day before the tornado), our CEO students had the opportunity to tour the City of Kankakee, Illinois Administration Building, including visits to the Mayor’s Office and the City Clerk’s Office.
During the tour, students gained a behind the scenes look at how local government operates, from the various departments housed within the building to the day-to-day responsibilities that keep a city running. Clerk Gall showed the students how to apply for a business license.
Chris Curtis Mayor - City of Kankakee and City Clerk Stacy Gall shared insights into how their offices serve residents, businesses, and entrepreneurs, helping students connect what they are learning in CEO to real-world systems and processes.
One particularly timely takeaway was learning that door-to-door solicitors are required to go through an authorization and registration process through the City Clerk’s Office. In the days following the storm, as an influx of solicitors entered our community, students were able to recognize and understand this process in action.
In a way we could not have anticipated, the lessons from that visit quickly came to life. In the days following the tornado, students have seen firsthand the role of the mayor in advocating for the community, coordinating disaster relief efforts, and working alongside social service agencies and elected officials from across the state, including the governor, to support Kankakee during a time of need. They have even seen Mayor Chris Curtis on national news, speaking on behalf of and advocating for our community during this challenging time.
Experiences like this continue to show our students that leadership, collaboration, and civic understanding are essential, especially in moments when a community needs it most.
