Blog
New 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…
Read MoreOur top 6 social media posts of 2018
2018 was a big year for participatory budgeting (PB), thanks to you! Looking back on our year in social media, we won great victories that make us optimistic going into 2019. Check out the highlights below, then make an end of year donation to support more victories in 2019! 1. De Blasio Announces Launch of…
Read MoreBest of 2018: Our 5 Big Wins
Over nearly 10 years, we’ve shown that participatory budgeting (PB) is a powerful tool for transforming our democracy. In 2018 we invested in making PB better and bigger. We developed new resources, supported innovative programs, and expanded what real democracy can be. Check out our 2018 highlights below, and please make an end of year…
Read MorePB2: What’s your wishlist for democracy?
It’s that time of year again! We need your ideas for how to make participatory budgeting (PB) bigger and better. To practice what we preach, PBP invites everyone who donates to our organization to decide how part of the donations are spent–it’s our own PB process, called PB2. In the past, you voted to spend…
Read MoreArt 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…
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