Get Involved with Your Community in Our Citizens Academy Class

BREVARD COUNTY, FL. – Join us for Citizens Academy in 2025. Did you know that less than 40% of Americans feel confident in understanding how local government works? Civic engagement is the foundation of a democratic society, and at the heart of decision-making lies the delicate balance between two vital yet sometimes competing priorities: individual liberty and the public good. Balancing these often means finding solutions that respect personal freedoms while addressing collective needs like public safety, education, and infrastructure. One impactful way for Brevard County residents to actively shape their community is by joining the Citizens' Academy—an extraordinary civics class designed to demystify local government. This program offers a behind-the-scenes look at how the county develops budgets, paves roads, trains employees, and more. Past participants of Citizens' Academy have gone on to serve on local boards, lead community initiatives, and deepen their understanding of county processes. 

This free course aims to give residents a better understanding of how the county develops its budget, paves roads, trains employees, and so much more. It will also promote open communication lines between county departments and residents. Together, we can build stronger, more equitable, sustainable, and healthy communities.

 
Citizen's Academy occurs every Thursday for 7 weeks, from 9 am to 3 pm, starting Thursday, February 6, and ending Thursday, March 20, 2025. The class is free to attend and lunch is not provided. If you're interested, please register on Eventbrite.

If you have any questions, please call us at (321) 633-1702 or email Brevard@IFAS.UFL.edu. The University of Florida is committed to providing universal access to all of our events. For disability accommodations such as sign language interpreters and listening devices, please contact the UF/IFAS Brevard County Extension Office at Brevard@IFAS.UFL.edu or (321) 633-1702 at least 2 weeks in advance. Advance notice is necessary to arrange for some accessibility needs.