Blog
We’re 10 years old! Can you get us this present?
I’ll admit, the past month has brought tears (of joy) to my eyes. I’m deeply proud that the Participatory Budgeting Project is celebrating our 10 year anniversary. We’ve come so far together – empowering 534,000 people in over 30 cities to decide how to spend $337 million! Thank you for stepping up to join our…
Read MorePBP Annual Report: 10 Years of Transforming Democracy
We are celebrating 10 years of transforming democracy and are proud to share our incredible victories from 2018 and our first decade of work. We can’t wait for you to be part of our vision for the future of the Participatory Budgeting Project (PBP). With your support, we can create a more just and equitable…
Read MoreInvesting in the Young Leaders of Today
The bell rings. Students spill from buildings into the hot, dry air of the desert. Concrete carries them into the sun. Heat waves along the horizon melt friends and buildings into distorted pools of color. The sting of the sun searing their skin distracts them from the oven-like air, but it does little to dull…
Read MoreI’m an Obama Fellow – I am because you ARE
Today, I am honored. I’m honored to be one of the 2019 Obama Foundation Fellows. And, I’m honored to join the diverse and powerful 2019 class of community-minded civic leaders. The Obama Foundation Fellowship will allow me to continue and strengthen my work elevating youth leadership and breaking down barriers between people and government…
Read MorePBP News: Anti-Poverty Funds, School Safety, Big New Launches
Celebrating 10 years of transforming democracy with you. For the past decade, the Participatory Budgeting Project (PBP) has been building a movement to transform our democracy. We have expanded and deepened democratic participation in government, especially by communities with the greatest needs. To celebrate, we’re hosting a 10th Anniversary Benefit at Prime Produce in New…
Read MoreNew Data-Driven Map Shows Spread of Participation in Democracy
As we celebrate the first 30 years of participatory budgeting (PB) in the world and the first 10 years of the Participatory Budgeting Project (PBP), we reflect on how far and wide PB has spread–and how it continues to grow! We’re thrilled to introduce a new tool to help us look back as we plan…
Read MoreHow students can decide school budgets and policies
Young people need safer and more supportive schools. Whether in Parkland, Florida, or in communities of color that face violence daily, students are demanding more of a say in how their schools are run. This spring, we showed how schools can take student voice to the next level: Invite students to directly decide school spending…
Read MoreRochester asked residents to decide how to reduce poverty. Here are the results.
Rosa was bubbling over with excitement. She’d just accepted $50,000 to launch a new childcare program unlike any other in Rochester, NY. After months of working with community members, local partners, and lots of data, Rosa’s community cast participatory budgeting (PB) votes on how to spend $200,000 of New York State government anti-poverty dollars in…
Read MoreA PB Love Story: How Catherine and Neil Met
On Valentine’s Day, we bring you a story of love and democracy. Catherine Zinnel used to be the coordinator for participatory budgeting (PB) in New York City Council Member Brad Lander’s office. She met her now-husband Neil Reilly when he got involved as a PB volunteer. PB brings people together. For Catherine and Neil, PB…
Read MoreErik Olin Wright, Interstellar Leader of Democracy (1947-2019)
We lost a shining star of democracy last week. Erik Olin Wright, PBP Advisory Board member and leading scholar of democracy and social change, passed away on January 23rd, 2019 from leukemia. Erik was…
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