Civic Infrastructure

Goals of the Civic Infrastructure Project Team:

Increase citizen involvement and pride throughout the County.

Increase opportunities for inter- and intra-generational, multi-income, and multi-racial interactions.

BACKGROUND
General citizen apathy has been identified as a major issue and is considered a barrier to positive change in the County. A low level of public involvement in local politics and little support for elected officials negatively impacts the civic infrastructure of the County. This is aggravated by a media that focus too much on negative or sensationalized stories versus providing a more balanced approach and viewpoint, and the lack of a unifying vision and image for Brevard.

Similarly, our rapid growth due to in-migration highlighted the need to get these individuals involved and willing to invest in the community. With the continuing increase in the average age of the County’s residents, younger individuals feel that there is a lack of attention to their interests and opportunities to become involved in the community.

The Civic Infrastructure Project Team has addressed the need for increased citizen involvement and civic pride in communities.  It also has recognized the importance of engaging young professionals and has formed an organization specifically for this demographic.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS
In addressing the first goal of increasing citizen involvement and civic pride, this project team has created -and is now facilitating- the Brevard Tomorrow Citizen’s Academy.  This course is designed to inform residents about the operations of their municipal and county governments, as well as community services.  It encourages them become involved, through participation on government boards and committees, or through nonprofit organizations.

In order to attract, engage and retain our younger working citizens, the team created Young Professionals of Brevard, or ypB, a program dedicated to providing networking, community service, career development, cultural arts and recreational opportunities to career-minded individuals, ages 21 to 40, or those "young at heart".  Officially launced in August 2005, ypB is now a membership program whose rolls cross all employment sectors, from engineers and scientists, to management and sales professionals, and from police officers and firefighters, to teachers and non-profit executives and staff.  All professions and all young adults are welcome to join!

Program Leaders:

Citizens Academy
Linda Birrel Gibson, P.A.
677 Dave Nisbet Dr.  Ste. 111
Cape Canaveral, FL 32920
Ph: 321-799-2870
Fax: 321-799-2871

Young Professionals of Brevard
John M. DeMarco, ypB Chairperson
Health First Center for Learning
Rivercrest Plaza
3470 N. Harbor City Blvd.
Melbourne, FL  32950
Phone:(321) 434-1937
Fax: (321) 254-5151
Email: John.DeMarco@health-first.org

For more information about Civic Infrastructure, Citizens Academy or Young Professionals of Brevard, contact Brevard Tomorrow at 321-632-8222 or email info@brevardtomorrow.com