Government Citizens Academy

About the Program

Category: Civic Education and Public Information (Best in Category)

Year: 2018

Chesterfield County greatly values civic engagement and opportunities for residents to learn about their local government. A new program called the Government Citizens Academy (GCA) was developed to enable citizens, through interactive sessions and tours of community facilities, to get a comprehensive look at how and why programs and services are provided. This is a new tool to enhance and grow the county’s communications efforts and increase engagement by providing hands-on learning and opportunities for citizens to provide feedback. Held twice a year, in the spring and fall, the GCA is designed to accommodate 25-30 people, providing a more intimate learning environment to exchange information and ideas. In the spring, sessions are at night and during the day in the fall. Scheduling the academies at different times makes the program appealing to all demographics, including retirees, long-time residents, business owners, high school students, prospective homeowners, or residents wanting to learn more about their government. Designed to introduce participants to their county, which is 437 square miles, a session is held in each magisterial district. Bringing the classes to the community, versus having them at the government complex, took many participants to areas they had never been before.