Bowling Green, KY. On June 13, the City of Bowling Green celebrated a milestone: the largest graduating class in the history of the Academy for New Americans. Thirty graduates, representing 13 countries and speaking 21 languages, gathered at the Sloan Convention Center for a ceremony that marked the end of months of learning, leadership development, and community connection.
Since February, participants met monthly to explore how city government works, build leadership skills, and connect with local resources. “The Academy for New Americans was developed… to empower New Americans to understand and participate in City Government,” the City noted.
The program’s final session, held on June 12, brought lessons into action. Graduates volunteered with Bowling Green/Warren County Habitat for Humanity — some helping build a home at Durbin Estates, others assisting at the Habitat ReStore. The hands-on experience reflected the Academy’s mission of turning knowledge into impact.
Participants hailed from Afghanistan, Burma/Myanmar, Cuba, Democratic Republic of Congo, El Salvador, Iraq, Japan, Madagascar, Mexico, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Tanzania, and Thailand. Their diversity underscored Bowling Green’s growing multicultural community.
Launched in 2016, the Academy has received statewide recognition, including the Kentucky League of Cities’ 2017 Enterprise Cities Award, and has inspired similar programs in other cities. It is led by the City’s Community Engagement Division for Neighbors and New Americans in the Department of Neighborhood and Community Services.
While the graduation marked the end of the program, it also signaled the beginning of these graduates’ next chapter as community leaders, ready to contribute to the city they now call home.
