City of Gastonia Municipal Citizens' Academy

The City of Gastonia sponsors a Municipal Government Citizens' Academy once each year, beginning in January.  Participants will meet two Mondays per month from January through June with each meeting beginning at 6:00 PM. Meetings will be held in a variety of city facilities including Gastonia's City Hall and other locations as the itinerary dictates for each department. 

The Municipal Government Citizens' Academy is an important component of the City’s “Citizens First” philosophy. Its purpose is to provide a forum where participants develop a basic understanding of municipal government, learn the duties of the various city departments, and meet the people behind the scenes that make Gastonia a great place to live, work, and play.

During the 10 sessions of the Academy, various personnel within city government, along with special guests, will cover a variety of subjects ranging from the municipal election process to the inter-workings of the City’s public safety component. Through this experience, participants will gain valuable knowledge of the operations of the City of Gastonia and the importance of their involvement in the governmental process.