Technical
Assistance
Our Technical Assistance team helps design, strengthen and facilitate equitable and innovative participatory budgeting (PB) and participatory democracy (PD) processes in North America through implementation support. We offer capacity building and support to PD implementers and their partners, including project planning and management, individually tailored training, coaching, workshops, and other support.
New! PB Roadmap Workshops
Are you ready to run your PB process? Gearing up to do PB for the first time? Reflecting on your wrapped up PB process and ready to improve your next iteration?
We have just the resource for you!
Our brand new workshop series, PB Roadmaps, will guide PB implementors – including city staff, organizers, and community leaders – thtough their PB process, from planning to evaluation and every step in between.
Starting PB
- Planning Consultation: Customized guidance to plan and launch PB in your community, focusing on key questions and resources necessary for success.
- PB Briefing for Decision-makers: Learn how PB works and how co-governance builds trust Community Info Session: Learn how PB works and how it can positively impact your community.
- Community Info Session: Learn how PB works and how it can positively impact your community.
- PB 101 Training: A day-long workshop for up to 30 people to build a foundation in the principles and mechanics of PB. Walk through a full PB process, hear case studies, develop practical skills for facilitating PB, and gain insights into challenges and ways to overcome them.
Implementation Support
- Planning: In-person orientation and planning meetings for your PB team, including staff and department liaisons.
- Coaching Calls: Regular calls for your PB team.
- Trainings: For PB staff and community leaders to strengthen necessary skills such as facilitation, outreach, proposal development, and staffing the vote.
- Workshops: We develop and lead participatory workshops to design your PB process and develop a community-based PB rulebook.
- Materials: Our flagship manual, “Running a PB Process from Start to Finish: A How-To Guide” includes customizable tools, templates, and training plans for every aspect of running PB.
- Technology integration: We advise on—and manage—digital platforms for both back-end administration and public-facing engagement.
- Evaluation support: We help develop an evaluation plan and tools to document and improve your PB process.
Ready to get started? We want to hear from you!
Past and Current Clients:
United States
- City of Boston, MA
- Chicago Aldermanic Wards, IL
- City of Cambridge, MA
- City of Denver, CO
- City of Grand Rapids, MI
- City of Greensboro, NC
- County of Merced, CA
- New York City Council, NY
- New York City Department of Education
- Phoenix Union High School District, AZ
- City of Sacramento, CA
- City of Seattle, WA
- City of Vallejo, CA
- Unincorporated King County, WA
Canada
- City of Vancouver, BC
- City of Victoria, BC
- City of Toronto, ON
- City of Dieppe, NB
Resources
People’s Budget Cleveland Case Study (2024)
PB2: How we practice what we preach!
PB2 gives our network a direct say in our work, funding impactful projects that align with participatory democracy principles.
Zine – What is Participatory Democracy?
An illustrated beginners guide created to demystify participatory democracy, open up space for conversation, and ground ourselves in the rich history of people power!
Zine – ¿Qué es la Democracia Participativa?
¡Una guía ilustrada para principiantes creada para desmitificar la democracia participativa, abrir un espacio para la conversación y arraigarnos en la rica historia del poder popular!
Where We Live NYC: The NYC Fair Housing Assessment
In 2018, the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) and the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) collaborated with dozens of other government agencies, community-based partners, and consultants to launch “Where We Live NYC.”
Tools for Virtual Engagement
This brief offers considerations for making virtual decision-making processes accessible and equitable throughout and beyond the COVID-19 era. It also highlights several platforms and tools used to facilitate digital engagement and participation.
