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Announcing the PB^2 winners!
We are delighted to announce the results of our 2020-2021 PB², PBP’s internal participatory budgeting process. PB² is a practice that helps us live our values as an organization, by inviting our community to become decision makers in the work PBP does. Here’s a refresher on our PB² process, which follows the same steps as the other…
Read MorePB in Action in Durham, North Carolina
In May 2018, North Carolina launched PB Durham where the Durham City Council allocated $2.4 million out of the $500 million budget for residents 13 years or older to decide upon for use in one-time projects. The Durham City council appointed a 15-member steering committee for PB in the city and hired a team including…
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 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 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 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 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…
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