Results from North America’s 1st Youth PB

In June 2014, over 1,700 Boston youth, ages 12-25, made their voices heard by voting in the first youth participatory budgeting process in the U.S. We were thrilled to partner with the City of Boston and dozens of local youth organizations to launch this groundbreaking initiative called Youth Lead the Change. In this first year, young Bostonians decided how to spend $1 million of the city’s capital budget. The city is committed to continuing Youth PB for the next year as well!

This cycle’s winning projects included playground renovations, public art walls, Chromebooks for high school students, and more! For the full list of winning projects, click here.

Job Openings: Work with PBP

We’re hiring! The Participatory Budgeting Project is seeking a new Program Assistant and paid Fall Interns to join our growing team — please share widely.

Program Assistant

We are seeking a highly motivated Program Assistant to support the implementation of PBP’s programs, including our technical assistance for local PB processes, and to provide operational and administrative assistance. This will be a full-time, salaried position, based out of our Oakland or New York City office, with a start date in September or October 2014. Read more. (Deadline: August 3, 2014)

Program, Communications & Design Internships

We also seek to fill up to three paid internship positions, focused on programs, design, and communications. Interns will work with us in New York City or Oakland for at least 15 hours per week, starting in September and ending in December (exact dates are flexible). The internships are ideal for talented individuals eager to further their technical skills and gain experience with a growing non-profit. Read more. (Deadline: August 3, 2014)

Register for the Upcoming PB Conference

Want to learn about participatory budgeting alongside leading government officials, non-profit organizations, researchers, tech developers, and community participants? Join us at Real Power, Real Money: The 3rd International Conference on PB in North America on September 25-27 in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Take a moment to browse the list of speakers and sessions, which includes presentations, panels, and workshops, plus networking and social opportunities to share, discuss, learn, and collaborate. Register and book your discounted hotel reservations soon, as space is limited. For information about the schedule and other logistics, visit the conference website.

PB Launches in Long Beach, CA

Heads up Southern California! A new district-level PB process is starting is Long Beach, CA, spearheaded by Councilmember-Elect Rex Richardson in District 9. This past Saturday, PBP led an orientation where residents started planning for the start of the process. We’re looking forward to finalizing the rules of the process in August and then launching assemblies!

Are you in the Long Beach area and interested in getting involved? Sign up here to volunteer.

Councilmember Rex Richardson addresses residents at a PB info session.

PB On Tour

In the past few months, PBP staff have spoken far and wide, including at the International Observatory of Participatory Democracy Conference in Brazil, New Economy Coalition’s Common Ground in Boston, Economic Democracy Conference in Baltimore, Social Planning Forum in Toronto, and Allied Media Conference in Detroit. See below for where to catch us in the coming months.

PBP’s Ginny Browne (far right) presents at the 14th conference of the International Observatory of Participatory Democracy (OIDP) on lessons learned from 25 years of PB around the world.

PBP’s Josh Lerner tours PB voting sites in Hamilton, Ontario’s 2nd Ward following the Social Planning Forum in Toronto.

Upcoming Events

Want to get involved or learn more about PB? Join us at one of these events, or volunteer to help with outreach, planning, and more! Click on the links for event details.

• PBP Office Hours Webinar: August 20th, 12-1pm eastern
• 3rd International PB Conference (Bay Area, California): September 25-28

Talks and Trainings by PBP Staff:

• Frontiers of Democracy Conference (Boston): July 16-18
• Neighborhood Revitalization Conference (Washington, D.C.): July 24-25
• International Association for Public Participation Conference (Winnipeg, MB): September 28-30
• League of Kansas Municipalities Annual Conference (Wichita, KS): October 11-13
• National Coalition for Dialogue and Deliberation Conference (Reston, VA): October 17-19
• Penn State Democracy Medal Talk (State College, PA): October 24
• National League of Cities (Austin, TX) – Training: November 19
• Plus upcoming trips to Puerto Rico, Montreal, Toronto, Edmonton, Albuquerque, Phoenix, Buffalo, and more!

Let us know if you want us to come to your city!