Davenport Institute at Pepperdine University
The Davenport Institute at the Pepperdine School of Public Policy works with municipal governments and civic organizations to engage the residents of California in the policy decisions that affect their everyday lives.
In today’s world of easy access to information and easy connectivity to others, it is more important than ever for California’s local leaders to involve the residents of their communities in the important issues they confront. Done legitimately, this new kind of leadership produces better, more creative policy solutions, and better, more engaged citizens committed to the hard work of self-governance.
For almost a decade the Davenport Institute has supported California local governments in improving their engagement with residents through training, grant-making, and consulting support. Now they are launching their latest program:
“How are WE Doing? A Public Engagement Evaluation Platform.”
“How are WE doing?” will allow municipalities in California (and, eventually, nationwide) to evaluate their engagement efforts, identify areas for improvement, and apply to be recognized for what they are doing well. It will function as both a self-evaluation tool including guidance to finding the right resource to make relationships with residents even stronger, and as an opportunity for municipalities to apply for recognition as a “publicly engaged” municipality. You can find out more here and explore the platform here.
