Blog
Art Makes Democracy Better
How the arts gets us to turn on, tune in, and help out Between committees on transport and whole debates on tax rates, the details of governance can be mind-numbing. That can cause would-be participants in democracy to be disinterested. That’s why democracy also has to be a culture. We have to have our hearts…
Read MoreThe next generation of digital democracy tools
Marijel walks by an old neighborhood park every day on her way to work. She fondly recalls visiting the park as a child, running around with friends, laughing away the sticky summer days. These days the park reminds her more of a vacant lot than a place for kids to hang out. While attending one…
Read MoreThank you for supporting young leaders like me
This #GivingTuesday, we raised over $8,500 from more than 110 supporters! Thank you for helping us spread participatory budgeting further than ever! Your support means so much to me as the community builder within the Participatory Budgeting Project. I joined the PBP team this spring after organizing with various student groups in Queens College, City University…
Read MoreHope for Democracy: A New Book Reflects on 30 Years of Participatory Budgeting
An expansive new volume edited by Nelson Dias features dispatches by more than 60 authors from the frontlines of participatory budgeting’s (PB) growth around the world. This book, Hope for Democracy, could not have come out at a better time for PB supporters in North America. Next year will mark 10 years of PB in…
Read MoreFirst, we voted. Here’s what’s next:
The election may be over, but our campaign for real democracy is just getting started. We know you’re probably still buzzing from the election, whether you voted, donated, or volunteered. Elections matter – thank you for showing up! But as the pundits start to ponder the next round, we also know that voting every year…
Read MorePBP News: Victory in NYC, New Video, Rockstars for PB
VICTORY: NYC Voters Approve Citywide PB Last week was big for democracy, from the re-enfranchisement of 1.4 million voters in Florida to an upsurge in turnout across the US. It was also a big moment for participatory budgeting: New York City voters approved a city charter revision that will create a citywide PB process! In…
Read MoreYou’re Invited! Brooklyn Fundraiser
Come celebrate taking participatory budgeting to the next level! For the past decade, we’ve built a movement in NYC – and across the country – to expand democracy and civic engagement. We’ve won big this year! From Mayor de Blasio’s announcement that all public high schools will launch participatory budgeting (PB) to NYC voters approving…
Read MoreVICTORY! NYC voters approve citywide PB
We did it! Yesterday was a big day for democracy, from the re-enfranchisement of 1.4 million voters in Florida to an upsurge in turnout across the US. It was also a big day for participatory budgeting: New York City voters approved a city charter revision that will create a citywide PB process! In a landslide vote,…
Read MoreWhen the people decide the budget, here’s what they fund
When people first learn about participatory budgeting (PB), they often ask if it really makes a difference—if PB shifts funding to higher priority issues. At the Participatory Budgeting Project, we’re answering this question—with data! Using New York City Open Data and the NYC Council capital discretionary budget, we built myPB, a tool for tracking projects…
Read MoreWant to Improve Education? Empower the Students.
Top 5 reasons Participatory Budgeting improves students’ education. By: Shari Davis and Dylan Welch Autumn is here — and with it, a renewed conversation about how educators, parents, and communities improve their students’ education. Often in this discussion, solutions come down from on high through public officials or people within the educational system. This fall,…
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