| By Big Radio News Staff |

Beloiters will have the opportunity to learn more about their local government over lunch.

Starting next month, the Beloit Public Library will begin its free Civics Academy presentations on public finance, city services, economic development and more. Discussions will be scheduled through June 2025.

The new effort is the result of a merger between the library’s Know Your Local Government series and the city’s Community Academy.

Beloit City Manager Jerry Gabrielatos will be the first speaker of the series. He’ll talk about the city’s strategic plan and the challenges and opportunities at hand at noon Oct. 2.

The goal of The Civics Academy is to help residents engage with local government and the community and spur positive change in the city.

Attendees are welcome to bring a lunch and while registration is not required, the first 25 to register for each talk will get a free lunch courtesy of the Stateline Community Foundation and the Beloit Public Library Foundation.

More information, including the lineup of speakers through the fall, can be found at beloitlibrary.org.