Biddle--part of the SNAIL, Sunnyvale Neighbors of Arbor Including LaLinda--was one of 22 students in the first CitySkills class series, which concluded on April 27.

One night a week for four weeks students received a crash course in civic involvement, with lectures from council members, city staff and community leaders on where to go in Sunnyvale to get answers to questions or to make a difference in their city.

The program also teaches the value of residents working together, by encouraging interaction between students to find answers they're looking for.

"I think I'm even learning quite a bit from the other students going through it with me," Biddle said.

CitySkills is an offshoot of Silicon Valley Leadership, which grew out of--and now oversees--Leadership Sunnyvale, an eight-month course that introduces residents to all sides of the community and includes community projects and visits to local schools and other organizations.

Sunnyvale Neighborhood and Community Services Manager Coryn Campbell said CitySkills was designed as a less intense, lower-cost course than Leadership Sunnyvale to introduce residents to services, management, budgeting and other topics.

The program even held a mock council meeting to better explain how each member of the council and staff fits into the overall process. Program courses were taught by members of the city government, including Campbell Communications Officer John Pilger and Councilman Fred Fowler.

"I'm a retired teacher, so I know what a good lesson is, and I know what a good presentation is, and they do it all up to code," Biddle said.

Each class lasts two hours, and the entire course costs just $15. Campbell said a date has not yet been set, but the city is hoping to have the next CitySkills course sometime in early fall, in September or October.

"If someone is interested in learning more about community and leadership in Sunnyvale, [Silicon Valley Leadership] has a very in-depth course for that," Campbell said, referring to Leadership Sunnyvale, which meets once a month for all-day sessions and for the better part of a year.

Leadership Sunnyvale is often seen as a precursor to involvement in Sunnyvale politics. Graduates frequently go on to serve on the city's various boards and commissions.

But for residents seeking a more casual relationship with the city, CitySkills provides the tools to get involved.

"I feel that if I wanted to get involved in historical preservation--which is one of my interests--I could do that with this education," Biddle said. "I know some places to go for help now that I didn't know about before."

Biddle said she was torn because she wanted to promote the course to people but had to restrain herself.

"I wanted to run back to my neighborhood association and tell them what I had learned," Biddle said. "But I want other people to take it, and I want them to find out for themselves."

For more information on CitySkills, contact Community Outreach Coordinator Michelle Bromstead at 408.730.7472.