When I became the general manager of the newspaper in late 2022, I asked myself one simple question: how do I get to know my community better and be involved? Soon after, as luck would have it, I met Kim Halfhill of Thrive Excelsior. She asked me to participate in the Thrive Leadership Academy, and I am so thankful I did. This interactive course is a seven- week-long program that gives a new perspective on the place we call our home. We learned about community leadership, public works, health and wellness, housing, economic development and so much more. It gave me a fresh perspective on Excelsior Springs and all the good things going on in our area. I also learned that we all must work together to make this a better place to not only work but also to plant our roots and live our happiest lives. The next Citizen’s Leadership Academy will be in the spring, and I would encourage everyone to participate. The link for the next class is - https://forms.gle/zo4KFEVvFpLQPnfRA or visit the…