FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BREVARD COUNTY, FL. – Florida's rapid population growth over the past 20 years has created an economy based on tourism, construction, real estate development, and agriculture, leaving the world we live in increasingly complex. Often these factors cause stress and conflict in local communities as they try to balance a strong economy, a clean environment, and a healthy population. To assist in creating innovative solutions, citizens need to be "engaged" and have the best available science-based information to assist them in making decisions that affect themselves, their families, and their communities. Studies show that citizens feel "engaged" when they play a meaningful role in discussing and deciding projects and programs that affect them. In response to this information, government leaders must broaden how they engage citizens to empower and include them in various roles.

To empower Brevard County residents, we encourage interested residents to sign up for the Citizen's Academy program offered by the UF/IFAS Extension office. The program is a 7-week interactive learning program that promotes open lines of communication between residents and county staff and provides participants with communication and leadership tools to create stronger, more equitable, sustainable, and healthy communities. Citizen's Academy is a free class that occurs every Thursday from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. starting Feb. 9 and ending Mar. 23.

Registration is required. To register and learn more, please visit our Eventbrite: https://bit.ly/3Vaiyx3

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.