About Aurora Civic Engagement Academy
Want to learn how your local government works? Apply for the Aurora Civic Engagement Academy and gain a deeper understanding of city operations, leadership and decision-making. This free eight-week program is designed to educate and empower residents by providing an inside look at city government. The program is free for participants.
Key Topics:
- Aurora’s council/manager government structure
- Roles and responsibilities of elected officials
- The influence of HOAs and neighborhood groups
- How city boards and commissions shape policy
- The process of turning a proposed ordinance into law
- How City Council meetings work
- The city budget and its impact, city departments and their functions, and more.
- Participants will also engage in a community project after completing the program.
2025 Civic Engagement Academy
This year’s Civic Engagement Academy takes place from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday evenings from April 23 through June 4 at different locations in the city.
The class is limited to 30 participants who must be residents of Aurora or be employed at a business with a physical presence in Aurora.
The 2025 application is now closed. The next academy will take place in 2026.
Testimonials
Check out what the graduates from the 2023 academy had to say about the program: