William Jessup University’s Public Policy Department and Institute were recognized at the twenty first Economic Development Summit held at Sun City Roseville on March 22, 2012. Their leadership on the Walk & Talk led to that event receiving the PCED's Innovation Award.
Dave Butler, CEO of LEED (Linking Education and Economic Development) nominated the inaugural effort.
The Rocklin Walk & Talk was a collaborative project between William Jessup University, the Rocklin Chamber of Commerce, City of Rocklin, the Rocklin Chamber, Rocklin Unified School District Board and Sierra College Board. The award was presented to Sosamma Samuel-Burnett, Chair, WJU Public Policy Department/Executive Director, Public Policy Institute and Robin Trimble, CEO of the Rocklin Chamber of Commerce. Sosamma served as Chair of the Walk & Talk Planning Committee.
WJU's Public Policy Department facilitated the Walk & Talk event and residential survey commissioned by the Rocklin Chamber of Commerce to determine what Rocklin resident’s value most about their community. The two day event held last October included over 100 volunteers; WJU's American Government students were included among them. They surveyed over 700 residents in 10 Rocklin neighborhoods.
Public Policy Institute, launched in fall 2011, was commissioned to prepare the results report -- PPI's first major project report. The report summarized the findings of the survey and provided recommendations to the government, business and education sectors. Sosamma, Dave Butler, and Robin Trimble presented the results to the Rocklin Chamber Board and Rocklin City Council in January, as well as Rocklin Unified School District Board in February and Sierra College Board in March.
"The Placer County Economic Development Innovation Award is a great recognition for the Walk & Talk event and results, but also for the collaboration and community impact it fostered,” shared Sosamma Samuel-Burnett. “I am so pleased that WJU’s Public Policy Department and Institute had the opportunity to lead this first of its kind effort on behalf of the Rocklin Chamber and the City of Rocklin.”
The Public Policy Department and Institute were also recognized for this work in December by the Rocklin Chamber who presented Samuel-Burnett with the Chairman's award for her contributions to the community.
The Public Policy Department provides a range of community events, including the upcoming Public Policy Lecture Series on May 1 and 5 featuring former Education Secretary Glen Thomas and Congressman Dan Lungren. And the Institute is engaged in a range of projects and services including an energy-efficiency canvassing project for mPOWER Placer and strategic planning, government relations, and city study missions for local Chambers of Commerce. PPI is featuring two upcoming Continuing Education Seminars on CA regulatory policy (April 14) and campaign organizing (May 5).