Davenport Institute and The Village Square Offer New Grant to Help California Communities Work Through Divisive Issues

Pepperdine University's Davenport Institute for Public Engagement and Civic Leadership is pleased to announce a new opportunity for California municipalities and civic organizations to bring a unique public engagement program to their communities. The Institute has partnered with The Village Square — a nonprofit organization nationally recognized for helping communities engage in civil dialogue on matters of local, state and national importance — to provide valuable resources and support to launch a Village Square program in the recipient's community.

The Village Square Public Engagement Grant, valued at $15,000 per year through the duration of the recipient's programming, will bring The Village Square's Dinner at the Square series to the recipient's community. The focus of the event is for residents, local government officials and community organizations to improve civic dialogue around polarizing issues and to maintain a constructive relationship between government and citizens around various issues for years to come.

Davenport Institute and Village Square staff will work with grant recipients to design a Dinner at the Square series tailored to their individual communities. The grant is open to municipalities and civic organizations in the state of California interested in creating and sustaining community dialogue across ideological lines.

Eligible applicants include:
• Mayors, City Council, City Managers, Assistant City Managers
• County Supervisors/ senior staff
• Executive Directors of regional government associations (COGs)
• Executive Directors of non-profit organizations

Applicants may apply through the Davenport Institute website. Applications must be received by October 17, 2014, and grant recipients will be notified by December 1, 2014.