Classroom-style initiative gives residents ‘inside look at how their local government works’
Registration is open for the Fall 2026 session of Civics 101: Your County Connected, the county’s Communications Department staff has announced.
“Civics 101 is a classroom-style community engagement program that gives Sarasota County residents an inside look at how their local government works,” a news release explains.
The 12-week program will feature a session every Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m., kicking off Sept. 3 and concluding on Nov. 19 with graduation, the release adds. “Participants will take part in various in-person presentations from county departments, tours of county facilities and interactive experiences,” it notes.
Applications are available online through July 12, the release points out, with space is limited to 30 participants.
During her June 16 presentation to the County Commission of the county Communications Department’s proposed 2027 fiscal year budget to the County Commission, Shelia Roberson, director of Communications, noted that nearly 20 people already had submitted applications to staff.
The program is open to Sarasota County residents, the news release says. “Applicants must commit to attending a majority of the sessions to graduate,” it stresses.
“Notifications of acceptance will be sent in August, prior to the start of the sessions in September, the release says.
Each session will be hosted by a specific Sarasota County Government department. Among those scheduled to participate in the sessions are County Administration; Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources; Public Utilities; Libraries and Historical Resources; Planning and Development Services; Financial Management; Solid Waste; Emergency Services; Transportation; and Stormwater.
“Civics 101 is a great way to connect residents with their government,” said Roberson, the Communications director, in the release. “County staff take great pride in providing customer-focused services that add value to the community,” she added in the release. “We want each participant to leave feeling informed, engaged and empowered to stay involved.”
For more information, visit scgov.net/civics101 or call 941-861-5000 or 311.