Mayor Teresa Tomlinson will hold the first of her quarterly public forums for 2013 Thursday at Brookstone School.

Known as “Let’s talk … with the mayor,” the forums are spread around different parts of the city to encourage wider participation, according to Tomlinson. They are held in conjunction with community groups that partner with the mayor’s office to put the events on. The forum runs from 6-7:30 p.m.

The format for the forums has been for the mayor to make introductory remarks, followed by her and other city leaders to field questions and hear complaints and observations from the crowd. Nearly all city department heads usually attend the forums, which have consistently drawn more than 100 people.

After today, public forums will be held June 13 at Liberty Hill Baptist Church, the Springer Opera House on Sept. 12 and the Solid Rock Assembly of God on Dec. 12, according to a release from the mayor.

Past forums have been held in VFW and Masonic lodges, churches, event centers and schools.