Taking the Plunge into Local Government
On Saturday, Canton drew crowds of superheroes, daredevils, and ballerinas for the town’s 8th Annual Polar Plunge. Canton hosts the fundraiser at the local aquatic center that recently underwent a major renovation and is a great location for community events. The Polar Plunge marked my first community event since starting the PWE in January. Attended by hundreds of individuals from Canton and surrounding areas, the Polar Plunge included participants from Asheville firefighters, to Canton’s mayor, to students at Canton’s two middle schools. Canton is located in the mountains of western North Carolina where snow fell throughout the week, including yesterday! The temperature on Saturday morning was a chilly forty degrees! Beyond the entertainment, the event offered a glimpse of town employees’ responsibilities that extend beyond the traditional workday. From planning the program to monitoring the safety of participants, town employees worked alongside volunteers to help make the event a success.
Sponsored by the Town of Canton and the Haywood Waterways Association, this event benefits a community program called Kids in the Creek. This program involves about 700 middle school students each year in activities aimed at generating environmental awareness and highlighting the importance of clean water. Students explore the quality of water by participating in hands-on activities in local bodies of water. Local science teachers are happy to discuss how Kids in the Creek complements their lessons and promotes responsible citizenship. Created by the Tennessee Valley Authority, the Kids in the Creek program represents how effective collaboration among federal and local governments and nonprofit organizations can lead to successful outcomes in communities. As an intern, exposure to events like this is important to developing a better understanding of a local government career. Speaking of careers in local government, next week I am starting a series about women in local government. I look forward to sharing highlights from interviews with women who serve in public service positions from town employees to elected officials.
