The Davenport Institute at Pepperdine University trained local government leaders in applied AI skills during a two-day workshop held July 28-29 at its Malibu campus. The program equipped public sector professionals with practical techniques to integrate platforms like ChatGPT, Claude, and Google Gemini into daily operations while addressing compliance and ethical standards specific to California municipalities.
Hands-on training for public sector workflows
Participants worked through intensive lab sessions led by instructors including Jonathan Reichental of Human Future and Chris Shepard, a communications officer for the City of Folsom. The curriculum emphasized cross-platform skills, teaching attendees how to apply AI across multiple vendors rather than relying on a single proprietary system. Staff practiced using models to organize materials, draft initial versions of staff reports, support data analysis, and refine public-facing communications.
Peter Pirnejad, executive director of the Davenport Institute, framed the discussion around the balance between operational gains and public trust. He noted that while AI improves efficiency and responsiveness, it also heightens concerns about transparency, ethics, and security. Leaders must adopt these tools carefully to maintain institutional credibility while handling increased service volumes.
Applying AI to municipal challenges and compliance
Josh Boudreaux, human resources director at the City of Lynwood, attended to align AI practices with California's regulatory framework. As a leader managing personnel needs, Boudreaux found value in building customized AI tools tailored to his city's specific requirements. He used the workshop to gather intelligence for an upcoming address on the relationship between AI and employment. For officials exploring AI for Government frameworks, such peer exchanges help clarify regional adoption rates and compliance baselines.
"Though I am familiar with AI platforms, I wanted to ensure that my understanding of the compliance piece was sound," Boudreaux said. "I also wanted to gauge what level our colleagues across the nation are at regarding AI usage. The program successfully provided this."
Shanell Shipe, assistant to the city manager, focused on immediate productivity gains for her department. She plans to deploy a custom ChatGPT specialist to assist her team in creating staff reports for council review. "I came to this workshop to learn how I could use AI to have a more productive day," Shipe said. "The custom ChatGPT specialist is going to really support the creation of thorough staff reports to present to our council so that they can make sound decisions for our city."
Building judgment and peer networks
Beyond technical skills, the workshop addressed governance and workflow integration. Hosts reviewed industry guidance on the future of AI and shared best practices for adopting emerging technologies. Participants departed with a network of peers facing similar transitions and improved judgment on when tasks still require human oversight. The Davenport Institute supports this work through research backed by the International City/County Management Association, focusing on how AI can improve service delivery while preserving democratic accountability.
To continue this training, the institute announced two additional programs for the year: a Virtual Professional Certificate in Public Engagement running October 15 to November 19, and an Applied Refinement in Local Government workshop on December 2 and 3 at the Malibu campus.
Why this matters for government professionals
Local government agencies face pressure to adopt AI to manage staffing constraints and service demands, yet many leaders lack a clear path to implementation that satisfies legal and ethical requirements. The workshop demonstrated that effective adoption begins with platform-agnostic skills and a focus on augmenting high-value tasks like report drafting and data review. Agencies can reduce risk by prioritizing training that emphasizes verification protocols and regulatory alignment before scaling tool usage.
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