Lessons from 30 years of a global experiment in democracy
The Hewlett Foundation and Omidyar Network recently funded a major new report on the lessons learned from 30 years of participatory budgeting (PB). In July, we hosted a webinar about the state and future of PB with report authors Stephanie McNulty and Brian Wampler. Check out the webinar recording, slides, and key takeaways below. We […]
Summer News: Welcome a new wave of voters + civic innovation
PB increases voter likelihood by 7% New research shows that people who take part in PB are 7% more likely to vote in an election. Candidates are winning recent elections by narrow margins. A 7% increase in voter likelihood could reshape political landscapes. These findings confirm what we’ve been hearing for years: PB inspires participants to […]
Participatory budgeting increases voter likelihood 7%
The effects of PB on voter likelihood Trust in government is at an all-time low, as only 18% of Americans say they can trust the government to do what is right. This deep distrust and cynicism leads many to stay home on election day. The US has one of the lowest rates of voting among […]
School engagement that’s almost too good to be true
Last year, we shared the very wonderful story of how Participatory Budgeting (PB) was introduced at P.S. 139, a local elementary school in Brooklyn where Miro (the son of our co-Executive Director Josh Lerner) goes to school. PB addressed a sincere need at P.S. 139: a need to connect with families at a school of nearly […]
Building Community and Student Power in Public Universities
Urban public universities are difficult places to find community. In what are largely “commuter schools”, students have less opportunities to connect on a daily basis. Many students balance coursework, family commitments, and multiple jobs. It’s easy for campus life to fall by the wayside. In the face of this, Participatory Budgeting (PB) is a vital […]
PBP News: BIG School PB, Conference Recap, Your Turn to Vote
PBP SPRING NEWS It’s time to elevate young leaders At the March for Our Lives, Chicago’s Mya Middleton, 16, underscored the power of youth voice: “We are the turn of this century. We are the voice of change. We are here to fix what America is falling short of.” Just weeks prior, New York’s Jacinta […]
Participatory Budgeting for Businesses: It Justworks
Last April, Isaac Oates was leaving his local library when a stranger asked him to vote. At first he politely declined, but when the volunteer said it was about the budget and would just take a minute, Isaac took a ballot, and learned about participatory budgeting (PB). Six months later, Oates was leading a PB […]
Can you sign up as a PBNYC poll worker?
People across NYC are gearing up to vote on how to spend millions of dollars through Participatory Budgeting in New York City (PBNYC). PBNYC works because people like you volunteer to make a difference in their community. Can you volunteer as a poll worker, to help your neighbors vote in PB and build real democracy? […]
BIG News for PB in Schools – and a BIG invitation!
Did you hear? Just this week Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the launch of Participatory Budgeting (PB) in all public high schools in New York City! That’s over 400 schools in total! In his State of the City address, Mayor de Blasio emphasized: “We’ve got to prove to our young people that they’ve got the […]
Mayor Launches Participatory Budgeting in All NYC High Schools
Following years of work by the Participatory Budgeting Project (PBP) and partners, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced in his State of the City address on February 13th that he is launching participatory budgeting (PB) in all of the city’s public high schools (there are over 400 total). The City will give every […]
