The City of Fort Walton Beach will launch a new Citizens’ Academy in October, offering residents an interactive civic and public information program to learn about city government and how city employees serve the public.

• The five-week Citizens Academy will be held each Wednesday evening from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., beginning Oct. 8, 2025, and concluding Nov. 5, 2025. The meeting location will rotate each week, with participants responsible for their own transportation to and from each class session.

Department directors and city staff will lead weekly sessions designed to give participants hands-on experience in city government operations. The program aims to help residents understand how the entire city works by graduation on Nov. 5.

“Each week we’ll be discussing new city departments and building on what was learned previously,” according to the city. “We want our participants to have a clear understanding of how the entire city works by the time they graduate on Nov. 5.”

Participants must be adults and reside within the City of Fort Walton Beach. Class size is limited to the first 20 applicants.

The weekly schedule includes:

Week 1 – Oct. 8: Chamber of Commerce (34 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE) – City Manager, Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce, and One Okaloosa Economic Development Council

Week 2 – Oct. 15: Fort Walton Police Department (7 Hollywood Blvd NE) – Police and Fire Departments

Week 3 – Oct. 22: Preston Hood Athletic Complex (132 Jet Drive NW) – Parks and Recreation, Library, Museum, Cemetery and Golf Club

Week 4 – Oct. 29: Public Works Field Office (7 Hollywood Blvd, NW) – Growth Management, Community Redevelopment Agency and Public Works

Week 5 – Nov. 5: City Hall (107 Miracle Strip Pkwy SW) – Graduation

To apply, residents should send an email with their name, telephone number, and address to Public Information Officer Devon Ravine at dravine@fwb.org. The city encourages early registration due to limited class size.