HARRISONBURG, Va. (ROCKTOWN NOW) – The Harrisonburg Citizen Academy is preparing for another season of bringing City of Harrisonburg staff closer to the community.

The 13-week program allows participants to visit City of Harrisonburg departments and partner organizations to learn about the services, programs and events available to community members. The program is held one night each week from Aug. 22 to mid-November.

Attendees will have the opportunity to explore City departments, seeing demonstrations of the tools, equipment and vehicles staff use in their duties while learning about the civil service done by each department.

“This program is a unique opportunity for people in our community to not only become more engaged with their local government, but to find new ways to give back to their community if they wish to do so,” Harrisonburg Director of Communications Michael Parks, the administrator of Harrisonburg Citizen Academy, said. “Every year, participants in Citizen Academy who go on to join a City board or commission, or even run for City Council. Others just want to get a better understanding of how we provide high-quality services to the people of Harrisonburg. There are opportunities to enjoy this program no matter how involved you wish to be in your local government.”

Classes are from 6 to 8 p.m. every Thursday night, with some changes:

• The Aug. 29 class at Harrisonburg Public Works will run from 5:30 to 8 p.m. to allow for extra time.

• The Sept. 6 class with the Harrisonburg Voter Registrar will be on a Friday.

• The Oct. 30 class with the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Emergency Communications Center and the Harrisonburg Fire Museum will be on a Wednesday.

• There will be an optional Saturday class visiting the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Regional Sewer Authority and Harrisonburg Water Treatment Plant on Oct. 19.