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 […]
MMANC Podcast: Myths, Lies and Misconceptions About Ethics
Kim Castro, Program Manager for the City of Mountain View and Municipal Management Association of Northern California (MMANC) Board Member, meets with Kevin Woodhouse, Assistant General Manager for the Midpeninsula Open Space District, discusses the myths, lies and misconceptions about ethics in public service. The interview was conducted in person on October 16, 2015 at […]
Tips to Encourage Broader Public Involvement in Your Community
Local officials in California are increasingly facing tough challenges and are asking residents to weigh in through a variety of ways. These discussions are typically about land use, budgeting, sustainability, transportation, police and fire protection and many other local and regional issues. However, even with the best of intentions to encourage broad participation, local officials […]
Finding your agency’s voice: why it’s important to have a personality on social media
Everyone likes someone with a personality. The same is true of government agencies, and there’s no better place for an agency to establish a strong personality, a “voice,” than on social media. [pullquote align=”left” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]But to use it effectively, agencies need to build their reach and engage with their followers, […]
Sometimes “The Happiest Place on Earth” Can Get “Grumpy”: A Reflection on Customer Service
ORIGINAL CONTENT Last month my family and I spent a few days at “The Happiest Place on Earth.” By nearly every account, Disneyland was just that. Our time was filled with cheerful celebration, wild imagination, and endless entertainment. My parents traveled with my husband and me, along with our two daughters. My eldest daughter, […]