The Participatory Budgeting Project (PBP) has empowered more than 300,000 people by implementing participatory  budgeting (PB) to directly decide how to spend almost $240 million in public funds in 17 cities, across a number of different issues affecting local communities. One of these issues is transportation infrastructure. Conventional transportation planning leaves too many communities without…

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We’re thrilled to announce that PBP is launching a new global hub for PB practitioners and advocates, thanks to a $560,000 grant from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. The Global PB Hub will coordinate knowledge sharing, research, learning, and resource development for PB practitioners and advocates around the globe. The PB Hub will build…

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As we reflect on 2017 and many challenges this year, we find hope in the thousands of people like you building real democracy through participatory budgeting (PB). We’re excited to continue pushing forward, and to share some of the year’s top victories at the Participatory Budgeting Project (PBP). What we did: We expanded PB to…

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Students vote in PB

What do youth apprenticeship programs, safe routes to schools, and mobile showers for the homeless community have in common? They all make communities more resilient, more equitable, and more sustainable. They are all eligible to be funded by Community Development Block Grants (CDGB). And they are just some of the many projects directly decided by…

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University student at California State University in Long Beach, Jessica Bracho has participated as a budget facilitator for PB Long Beach. Studying Sociology, she worked closely with PB researcher Professor Gary Hytrek who sparked her interest in community development. Jessica shares the valuable lessons learned in making PB inclusive and a great experience for all…

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The evaluation report of the PB process in Long Beach California for the 2014-15 cycle has just been published. The report finds that, despite a long history of community fragmentation, Long Beach has benefited a great deal from participatory budgeting: it has helped to forge new relationships across the city, and has successfully incorporated people…

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WEBINAR: Democratizing Schools with Participatory Budgeting Date: Thursday, June 4, 2015 Time: 11am – 12pm (PST) Download the webinar slides [PDF]   Schools and school districts operate large and complex budgets – often with minimal participation from the community members and youth they work to serve. But it doesn’t have to be this way! Join…

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With the amount of time students spend in school, nearly 1000 hours per year, it’s surprising how little say they have in their schools’ priorities. What if a school gave its students more choice in their education? What if it gave young people the ability to make collective decisions, while promoting youth leadership and teamwork?…

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Good news for anyone who didn’t get a chance to submit a session proposal for the 3rd International Conference on Participatory Budgeting in North America! The Call for Proposals deadline has been extended to May 12, 2014. See the updated Call for Proposals Info Sheet & the conference website for more information. Feel free to email conference organizers  with questions at conference@participatorybudgeting.org, and please share with your networks. Also, do visit…

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Last October 2013, PBP began a year-long partnership with one of California’s foremost foundations to promote participatory budgeting (PB) across the state. Through our work with The California Endowment (TCE), PBP is supporting local advocacy for PB in the foundation’s Building Healthy Communities (BHC) program sites around the state. BHC is a 10-year initiative focused…

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