The Boston Globe has launched “Building a Better Commonwealth,” an effort to bring greater engagement into the public affairs process. Key to the program are a series of discussions that will bring together citizens, civic groups, and businesses to discuss how to make Massachusetts a  great place to live and work.

The discussions will be held in live meetings and digitally at Boston.com/better. The first meeting in the series will take place today from 4p.m. to 6p.m. at the Paramount Center in Boston. It will focus on “Cultivating Talent” with Gov. Deval Patrick and Jim Koch, founder and chairman of Boston Beer Company among those in attendance.