Davenport Institute Receives Grant to Support Public Engagement Work

The Davenport Institute for Public Engagement and Civic Leadership[BROKEN LINK] at the School of Public Policy was awarded a grant by the James Irvine Foundation in support of its public engagement programs in California. Funds will be used to lead public engagement seminars, consult with community leaders, and develop expanded government relationships.

"We are grateful for the James Irvine Foundation's continued support of our work in promoting public engagement in policy making throughout California," says Pete Peterson, executive director of the Davenport Institute. "Not only is the financial backing important, but coming from Irvine's California Democracy Program is a real 'seal of approval' from California's leading grant maker in this field."

This is the second grant awarded to the Institute by the James Irvine Foundation's California Democracy program, which is committed to the important work of connecting local governments and residents to address the difficult public issues facing California in the 21st century. In 2010, a similar grant helped to fund trainings for over 1,000 public officials. The funding was divided into annual consulting grants in support of public engagement projects on issues ranging from teen services to land use to budgets in communities across California. Foundation support has also allowed the Institute to expand its training programming in the areas of technology and civic engagement, and to begin to institutionalize public engagement as a leadership skill in several major California cities.