The International City/County Management Association (ICMA) is the leading organization of local government professionals dedicated to creating and sustaining thriving communities throughout the world. ICMA  asked Ashley Trim, executive director, of the Davenport Institute for Public Engagement and Civic Leadership at Pepperdine University, to profile the history of the collaboration between the city of Hayward and Chabot College. In the article, “Empowering Needles in a Haystack,” Trim recognizes  that there were many potential hurdles, and writes, “Plug-and-play” community visioning strategies and public workshops were not going to work in a neighborhood that includes one of the most diverse census tracts in the country.”