Pete Peterson, Executive Director

Pete Peterson was the first executive director of the bipartisan organization Common Sense California, which in 2010 joined with the Davenport Institute at the School of Public Policy to become the Davenport Institute for Public Engagement and Civic Leadership.  Peterson has consulted on “participatory planning” and “participatory budgeting” projects across California, and has directly facilitated public meetings. He co-created and currently co-facilitates the Davenport Institute's training seminars, which have been attended by over 500 city, county, school district, and nonprofit officials. He has written extensively on public engagement and technology for an array of print and online journals, and from 2008 to 2011 coauthored the California Civic Health Index. Peterson earned his BA in history from George Washington University and an MPP from Pepperdine University’s School of Public Policy. He was also a public affairs fellow at the Hoover Institution in 2006. He serves on the advisory committees to the Institute for Local Government’s Public Engagement Program, the California Civic Innovation Project, and the University Network for Collaborative Governance.

Ed Everett, Senior Fellow, Civic Engagement Practice

Ed Everett served as the co-chair of Common Sense California’s City/Regional Task Force from 2008 to 2010 and now serves on the Davenport Institute Advisory Council. He helped develop and co-facilitate the organization’s training programs in public participation. Everett is a nationally known speaker on issues related to public participation and community building. He is the recently retired city manager of Redwood City, where he held the position since 1992. Prior to that, he served as city manager of Belmont, assistant county manager for Washoe County, Nevada, and program analyst/fire chief for the city of Palo Alto. After obtaining a degree in economics from the University of California, Davis, and a graduate degree in urban affairs from Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School, Everett gained valuable experience during several years as a VISTA volunteer. While overseeing what some call the renaissance of Redwood City, he focused a great deal of research and study on the concept of “community building” – what makes a real community.

Ashley Trim, Assistant Director

Ashley Trim has worked in public policy at the local, state, and national level for both governments and nonprofit organizations.  As communications specialist for the city of Lancaster, California, she worked with various city departments on public engagement and information efforts. This experience established her interest in the public engagement process, while also providing insight and understanding into the challenges and fears facing local government officials who wish to engage their residents. Trim has a BA in government from Patrick Henry College and an MPP from the Pepperdine School of Public Policy. After receiving her master’s degree, she spent a year teaching in a low-performing public school, an experience that reinvigorated her interest in the potential of public engagement to address some of our most pressing public issues – particularly at the local level. She currently serves as senior editor of the Davenport Institute’s four blogs and writes about public engagement issues for local and online news organizations. Trim coordinates Davenport’s training seminars and events and collaborates with Pete Peterson.