build stronger communities in California by promoting public participation in local governance. The institute has trained thousands of local government staff, elected officials, and police officers in California and across the country and has provided technical support to more than 50 cities. More than 100 practitioners have also completed the institute’s Professional Certificate in Advanced Public Engagement for Local Government. Hosted on the Malibu campus, this unique program offers a deep dive into the context, purpose, and best practices for engaging residents in the decisions that affect their lives and communities. Through continued course work and work-study opportunities, the Davenport Institute provides current SPP students with the skills, experience, and relationships they will need to work toward common-sense answers to today’s difficult policy problems. The institute has been instrumental in developing the School of Public Policy’s student chapter of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), only the second such chapter in California, as well as in facilitating the annual City Manager in Residence program. The institute is affiliated with the following networks and associations: Bridge Alliance, California Consortium on Public Engagement, National Civility Network, National Conference on Citizenship, and the University Network for Collaborative Government. In 2000 the Institute was named in honor of David Davenport, the university’s sixth president, and an endowment of $3 million was established. The American Project at the School of Public Policy "The American Project: On the Future of Conservatism" is a multi-year program to propel innovative ideas for reimagining the future of America's conservative movement. Launched in early 2017, the “Project” gathers leading academics, activists and academics to explore the future of the conservative movement. Through events and an essay series featured on the website RealClearPolicy, the American Project argues for a reimagined communitarian conservatism in policy and politics. The American Project is led by SPP Dean Pete Peterson, and co-director, Rich Tafel. Homeland Security Advisory Council at the Pepperdine School of Public Policy The Homeland Security Advisory Council at the Pepperdine School of Public Policy (HSAC@SPP) is an innovative academic enterprise focusing on disaster preparedness, crisis management, and resiliency through engaging the public, private, and civic sectors. Formed in partnership with the renowned Los Angeles Homeland Security Advisory Council, HSAC@SPP is the latest addition to the SPP's robust cross-sector initiatives, positioned to prepare the current and next generation of leaders by exploring a full range of cross-sector and information technology solutions to public