With the 2020 general election still almost a year out, it can seem like there are not many ways to be civically engaged. However, there are many ways to have your opinions voiced and to stay active through Kirksville’s local government. Student Government’s external affairs committee works to connect students with the City of Kirksville. As part of our efforts to do so this year, we have been attending a variety of meetings to stay informed and to ensure Truman students’ voices are heard in deliberations. Members of our committee attend Kirksville City Council meetings to stay up-to-date with proposed legislations and to bring those legislations to Student Government to gather feedback from students. Some of our members also attend Main Street Kirksville committee meetings, in which the revitalization of Kirksville’s downtown area is discussed. Recently, the committee has worked on the renovation of storefronts and facades for businesses on Kirksville’s historic square. In December, the committee plans to have a variety of holiday events to get the community to come out to the downtown shops and support their local businesses. Be on the lookout for those events!
Kirksville City Council meets every other Monday in the City Hall Council Chambers. If you are interested in getting more involved in Truman-Kirksville relations such as these, or have ideas about how Student Government could further develop these relationships, reach out to chair Emily Smith at ems7485@truman.edu to learn more. Have a great Thanksgiving break, Bulldogs!