Teen Change-Makers: The Beginning of the First PB Youth Committee in District 39

At the first PB Youth Committee meeting, teens discussed what project ideas seemed worth pursuing in the PB process. 

     On Monday, October 24th, a group of local teens, District Committee members, and community activists gathered in the Kensington Library to discuss potential project proposals in the first meeting of this year’s PB Youth Committee. The formation of the first PB Youth Committee in District 39 is not only symbolic of PB's increasing popularity and success across the district, but is an emblem of the youth voice that has long been missing from the process. Now, a group of engaged high school and college students are eager to contribute to their communities through focusing their work in PB around inclusivity and diversity--hoping to unite district youth from varying backgrounds. 

The meeting began with a round of introductions, in which PB Youth Committee members shared their names, neighborhoods, and interests in the PB process. This segued into a larger discussion about the ideas proposed in the previously held PB Youth Assembly to determine which could be developed into larger PB projects. Some ideas were deemed not feasible due to logistical challenges involving the scale of the ideas and the level of dependency on city agencies needed to implement them. After eliminating the ideas that were not feasible, teens honed in ones they believed had the potential to both improve the community and meet the requirements for project development. Many voiced support for programming that could lead to the establishment of a community center-like network of courses in place of a physical community center, which could be more difficult to develop. Teens discussed what types of programs were most needed by a majority of district residents. Such programs proposed included an English-language learning course for immigrant communities, a poetry workshop, music programs at P.S. 230, a “steps to success course” for high school students, and a coding class. 

"It was exciting to hear all the ideas people from around the community had," says Chris Stauffer, a PB Youth Committee member and high school student from Park Slope. "Having the youth be involved in the [PB] process will not only allow the youth to have a voice, but [will] also allow younger people to have a direct influence in their community and see their own ideas implemented."

Committee members’ ideas reflected many of the core values of the PB process. A focus on equity, or ensuring that projects' reach extended into the different communities that comprise District 39, was prevalent throughout the meeting. Teens questioned how to best serve immigrant communities--particularly those in Kensington--that may not have as many delegates already involved in the PB process as other neighborhoods do. This also entailed an emphasis on diversity, and creating projects intended to unite district residents from different backgrounds. Even simply bringing teens from across the district together in this committee was a step towards achieving this goal. Of course, sharing youth voice was another staple of the teens' ideas. PB is a unique process in the opportunity it provides for youth to participate in local democracy, and the PB Youth Committee takes advantage of that unique opportunity in an effort to effect change through the power of youth. 

"Everyone deserves a chance to make a positive change in the world and the societies around them, but [not] everyone [gets] the opportunity to do so," says Mushfique Elahi, a PB Youth Committee member and high school student from Kensington. "PB has given me the environment to voice my own opinions and thoughts [on] what I can do for my community for the better."

Through monthly committee meetings and online communication via email and Facebook, PB Youth Committee members are not only developing project proposals that they believe will improve their communities, but are employing new means of doing so. Ideas for social media campaigns and mobilizing other high school and college students in committee members' schools and neighborhoods provide a unique channel for youth energy that can help expand the reach of the PB process. As the PB cycle continues, the PB Youth Committee promises a new kind of engagement in local democracy in the form of teens pushing for their vision of a more inclusive and connected District 39 community.  

Teens Take Action: A Synopsis of the PB Youth Assembly

     On Tuesday, September 27th, a passionate group of high school and college students from around District 39 attended a Participatory Budgeting Youth Assembly. From learning about PB to brainstorming their own ideas, attendees engaged in various aspects of the process in order to get a taste of what PB participation entails. Many left with a newfound sense of community engagement and enthusiasm about the potential establishment of a PB Youth Committee.

The PB Youth Assembly began with a presentation by District Committee members about the PB process.

The Assembly's Agenda

     Beginning with a presentation on the PB process, assembly participants learned about the various stages of the PB cycle. District Committee members reviewed the difference between capital and expense projects, as well as the goals of equity and civic engagement that remain at the core of PB. Teens asked questions about the feasibility of varying project ideas, the impact of PB on the neighborhoods served by the process, and the success of past PB cycles to familiarize themselves with the process and their newly established role in such. After brainstorming ideas for potential project proposals, the teens voted on their favorites and discussed why they believed the "winning" projects were deserved of government funding. Towards the end of the night, Council Member Lander addressed the crowd, speaking to the power of youth to effect change and the importance of local democracy within the larger workings of the nation's government.

Following the presentation, teen participants formed working groups and brainstormed ideas for PB project proposals. 

     Hasiba Haq, a newly appointed District Committee member and one of the leading organizers of the PB Youth Assembly, was particularly impressed by the large turnout of teen participants: "A lot of the time, I think what you notice at the [PB neighborhood] assemblies is that [they are] not as inclusive and diverse as you want [them] to be...It's important to engage people who don't always show up to these things or are aware of [them]...Especially with the youth here, it's really nice to see that they're from different neighborhoods and backgrounds."
    Many of the teen participants shared Hasiba's views. "PB is a really cool way to get together with other teens and young adults and make important changes in the community," says PB Youth Assembly participant Eliza Callahan, a high school junior from Carroll Gardens. Eliza found the assembly to be "really welcoming and engaging." After seeing how PB can serve as a powerful outlet for youth voices at the assembly, she has become eager to partake in a PB Youth Committee.

Teens Talk PB

    Among the most popular ideas for PB project proposals at the assembly was the development of a community center for teens of District 39. Such a center would not only allow teens of all different backgrounds from across the district to interact in a safe and accessible environment, but provide a unique location for after school arts programming and community engagement. Holding a district-wide internship and careers fair for students was another popular idea, as participants believed that more teens would strive for such opportunities if they were more informed about them. More winning projects included the establishment of "blue phone" police contact stations around parks and Subway stations, the creation of art galleries for local artists to display and sell their work in public libraries, and placing more trash cans along Ocean Parkway.
    Equity played an enormous role in teens' brainstorming sessions. Many popular project proposals were community-oriented, as participants prioritized the accessibility of PB for residents from all parts of the district. There was also an emphasis on teen voice and empowering high school and college students to share their opinions about government and democracy by facilitating dialogues on national issues in safe community spaces.

How Youth can Stay Involved

     To assembly participants and other teens interested in becoming more involved in the PB process, there are many ways for you to engage with PB. First, consider joining the PB Youth Committee, from which you can voice your ideas for neighborhood improvements and work with fellow teens to see them through. You should also check out upcoming PB events, which provide unique opportunities to interact with experienced PB participants and meet residents from across District 39. Moreover, there are numerous opportunities to volunteer at PB events throughout the cycle, particularly during Vote Week. And of course, make sure to vote! The voting age for PB is 14 years and up; regardless of whether you can vote in the General Election or whether you are a citizen, all district residents who meet this age requirement have the unique opportunity to vote in PB. And lastly, reaching out to all sects of District 39 is a primary goal of PB, so spread the word about the process and get your community involved!

Teens were particularly interested in establishing after school arts programming for high school students. 

The Start of Something New: Preparing for the 6th PB Cycle in District 39

     As fall begins, so does the start of District 39's sixth Participatory Budgeting cycle! Following an impressive voter turnout last spring (3100 voters--the highest turnout for District 39 yet), the support base for PB continues to grow. The emphasis on civic engagement and the opportunity to participate in a prime example of local democracy, all the while working to make a difference in your neighborhood, makes PB an incredibly unique and rewarding experience. As a newly appointed District Committee member, I'm eager to see what this year's PB cycle has in store.

A Review of the PB Process:
 
    The PB process begins with idea collection--a phase we will enter in the coming weeks. At district events and neighborhood assemblies, district residents can share their visions for neighborhood improvements. Past examples of project ideas include renovations for bathrooms in a public elementary school and the creation of a dog park in a vacant lot.
    Next comes the actual project development. Once categorical committees are formed with budget delegates and facilitators, project ideas will be narrowed down and the top picks will be developed into formal proposals. City agencies will provide feedback on the feasibility of these proposals and after final modifications, there will be a Project Expo intended to showcase all the potential PB projects to the public. Soon after comes Vote Week, in which district residents ages 14 and up will have the chance to determine which projects make the final cut and are funded by Council Member Brad Lander.
     The District Committee, which works in coordination with the Office of Council Member Lander, oversees the PB process. This group of dedicated PB participants takes on many tasks, among them organizing and hosting PB-related events, coordinating outreach to various District 39 communities, sometimes doubling as PB committee facilitators and liaisons, and coordinating Get Out the Vote efforts. With the addition of several new members this year, the District Committee is eager to expand the reach of our sixth PB cycle in District 39.

New Cycle Brings New Goals:

    Youth engagement is among the core goals of the District Committee this year. Inspired by last year's creation of the District 39 PB Youth Group, there will be another youth assembly held in late September to encourage more high school students to get involved in the PB process. Particularly for those not of legal age to vote in official elections, PB offers a unique opportunity for teens to have their voices heard and effect change in their neighborhood.
    Reaching a broader base of ethnic communities is another essential goal of this year's PB cycle. Equity is an important part of PB, as residents of all neighborhoods in District 39 are entitled to equal access to PB and to the communal rewards that can be reaped from the process. An emphasis on the inclusivity of PB, specifically through hosting neighborhood assemblies and other PB-related events in more diverse communities, helps to ensure that the equity PB is intended to foster is achieved.

How to Get Involved:

    Whether you're a veteran of PB or a newcomer looking to join, the idea collection phase is the ideal place to start in on the process. You can attend a PB event to submit an idea or even submit an idea online (go to http://ideas.pbnyc.org/page/about). In addition, neighborhood assemblies offer great opportunities to not only share your thoughts, but interact with residents from around the district. Later in the process, you can join a PB committee and contribute to the development of project proposals from their infancies to being ballot-ready! But remember, the amazing thing about PB is that you define your time commitment. The process is open to all who want to participate for as much as they want to participate in.
     There are also many ways in which to become more informed about what exactly the PB process entails. Websites like that of Council Member Brad Lander (http://bradlander.nyc/PB), the New York City Council (http://labs.council.nyc/pb/), and the Participatory Budgeting Council (http://www.participatorybudgeting.org/) provide detailed information on PB. And of course, this blog can also be a resource to provide you with updates throughout the District 39 PB cycle.

   With a new year of PB comes a new opportunity to become involved in this great process--so don't be shy! Share your ideas for neighborhood improvements and join a team of passionate district residents in envisioning and developing projects that will benefit our District 39 community.


The dates and locations for District 39's upcoming neighborhood assemblies are listed below:

PBNYC Assembly at Carroll Gardens Library

Focus on Arts and Education

Monday, September 19th

6:30 p.m.

396 Clinton St. (near Union St.), Brooklyn, NY

RSVP here: http://bradlander.nationbuilder.com/pbnyc2016assembly1?utm_campaign=pbassem16pastin&utm_medium=email&utm_source=bradlander

PBNYC Assembly at Park Slope Library

Focus on Streets & Transit, Parks, and the Environment

Thursday, September 22

6:30 p.m.

431 6^th Ave. (near 9^th St.), Brooklyn, NY

RSVP here: http://bradlander.nationbuilder.com/pbnyc2016assembly2?utm_campaign=pbassem16pastin&utm_medium=email&utm_source=bradlander

PBNYC Assembly at PS 230

Wednesday, September 28

6:30 pm

1 Albemarle Rd (btw Dahill Rd. and McDonald Ave), Brooklyn, NY

RSVP here: http://bradlander.nationbuilder.com/pbnyc2016assembly3?utm_campaign=pbassem16pastin&utm_medium=email&utm_source=bradlander

Participating in PB: A Wrap-Up of District 39's 5th Participatory Budgeting Cycle

   The 5th Participatory Budgeting cycle in District 39 has come to its exciting conclusion with the recent announcement of the winning PB projects. Featuring mobile art studios, freeze-resistant water fountains, and instruments for local senior centers, the list of winners included fantastic capital and programming projects, the implementation of which district constituents are eagerly awaiting. With the greatest voter turnout yet, there were about 3,100 votes cast in this year's PB cycle, demonstrating the widespread enthusiasm and support for the process.
     The tremendous success of this PB cycle has truly shown the civic engagement and community organizing skills of its founding teams and its individual participants--our District 39 constituents!

Youth Involvement in the PB Cycle:

   This PB cycle featured a new and exciting level of youth engagement. The creation of the PB Youth Group involved teens from the around the district, as well as some from nearby neighborhoods, in volunteering at PB events, reaching out to their communities to get out the PB vote, and voting in the process themselves! Many of the teens joining the group had never known about PB until this year, yet they were eager to become engaged in such a rewarding process.
     "It's cool to be involved in local democracy when you're only fifteen," says high school sophomore Isabella Rhodes, an active member of the PB Youth Group. "PB is encouraging young people to get involved and show that teens can be valuable members of their communities."
    This PB Youth blog served as a great resource for teens to access when they had questions about the process. Initially intended to serve as a means of communication and sending updates for the members of the District 39 PB Youth Group, this blog is now written for the larger PB community. Through posts documenting PB events and providing interviews with PB participants, anyone can follow the PB cycle and learn how to become more involved in the process themselves. 

My Takeaways About the PB Process:

    Before this year, I wasn't even aware of the occurrence of the PB process! In hindsight, this seems almost insane, as I am now not only fascinated by the cycle, but have enjoyed being able to participate as a volunteer, a blogger, and a leader of the District 39 PB Youth Group. Despite that it may seem like a small or limited process, PB has allowed me to become much more engaged in my community and provided a window into how instrumental a role local government can play in our daily lives. Government is often branded as ineffective, yet from what I have seen of PB, I know that this conception is not tried-and-true. PB is one of many governmental vehicles that drive positive change in our communities.  School renovations, library expansions, murals, and "greening up" the streets are just some of the many projects that exemplify the far-reaching and accessible nature of the PB process.

Looking Forward:

    Along with the end of 5th PB cycle in District 39 comes the opportunity to focus on the next PB process! Starting in the fall of this year, there will be idea collections, neighborhood assemblies, and events for PB participants being arranged. If you weren't involved in the PB process this year, there's an amazing chance to become so in the next cycle! You can attend a meeting, talk to a past participant, or even plan on becoming a budget delegate or a facilitator. And remember--it's never too early to start brainstorming ideas for potential PB projects!
    PB is an incredibly unique and rewarding process, and it is all-inclusive. Anyone in District 39 can participate, even without being a registered voter, and this accessibility to local government and community decision-making that PB provides is one not easily found in the political turmoil of 2016. So I encourage you all to become a part of the 6th PB cycle and make your voice heard!

#PBNYC: PB Vote Week Kicks Off at Grand Army Plaza

Voters at the Grand Army Plaza PBNYC
mobile voting site were excited to receive
a PBNYC ballot for their district. 

     Starting with the kickoff PB event at Grand Army Plaza this past Saturday, PBNYC Vote Week has been officially launched into action! Now, district constituents from across NYC can participate in their local PBNYC processes and support the projects they want to see implemented in their neighborhoods. Voting will continue at several different locations within each participating district until April 3rd, so if you haven't already, be sure to cast your PBNYC vote!
     District 39's first PBNYC mobile voting poll at Grand Army Plaza was filled with enthusiasm from both volunteers and voters. First, voters went to register at the registration table. After checking which district they were in, voters proceeded to fill out their ballots, a capital one and if they were from District 39, an expense one. In order to vote in PBNYC, voters must be 14 years of age or older and live in a district participating in the PBNYC process.
    Volunteers at Grand Army Plaza had a lot of fun informing voters about the process and discussing PBNYC with experienced participants. Many of the people voting have voted in the last few cycles, while other voters were new to the process and noticed the voting booths at the farmer's market, deciding to get involved then.
     While working as a volunteer was incredibly rewarding, it was also hard work. The PBNYC volunteers ran the registration and voting tables, looked up addresses of voters to check which districts they lived in, and continued to promote PBNYC to potential voters. These mobile poll sites offers a great opportunity for more people who haven't previously heard of PBNYC to become involved in the process and share their voice in what they want to see improved in their neighborhoods.
     This year's #pbnyc social media campaign also gathered a lot of buzz at the poll site. Voters took pictures with a #pbnyc Instagram post cut-out board to share why they participated in the process over Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Anyone can spread the word about PBNYC online. So make sure to #pbnyc, tell people you know about the process, and stay updated on the latest. And if you're interested in learning more about the projects, the PBNYC Project Expo in District 39 tomorrow will be a great change to not only vote, but to connect with the PBNYC project creators!

Voters first went to a registration
table before proceeding to fill
out a PBNYC ballot. 

Volunteers used an online system to verify
voters' addresses and registration. 

Council Member Lander encouraged PBNYC voters to take
a picture with the #pbnyc Instagram cut-out. 

How PBNYC Came to Be: An Interview with City Council Member Brad Lander on the District 39 Participatory Budgeting Process

Enthusiasm across District 39 is growing as the Vote Week for the 5th year of Participatory Budgeting (PBNYC) approaches! First implemented in 2011, PBNYC has allowed district residents to determine how over $1 million of their city council member’s discretionary funding is spent, encouraging constituents to voice their ideas regarding neighborhood improvements. PBNYC has served as a way for different district communities to unite in working together on larger city-funded projects.

Council Member Brad Lander, who first took office in 2010, worked with several other city council members to implement PBNYC in 2011. Now, serving his second term as a city council member, Councilman Lander has continued working towards the inclusion of all district residents in local government processes, especially through Participatory Budgeting. Throughout each PBNYC cycle, Council Member Lander leads neighborhood meetings, attends the project Expo, and helps organize the efforts to get out the PBNYC vote.

Read the full interview with Council Member Brad Lander below to learn more about his experiences with the PBNYC process in District 39:

Ilana Cohen: How and why did you initially decide to implement Participatory Budgeting in District 39?

Brad Lander: Before I got elected to office, I did a lot of community organizing and planning work. I ran the Fifth Avenue Committee...Then I ran the Pratt Center for Community Development, whose whole mission is about engaging people in planning for their communities. But when I got [elected into] office, we weren’t doing that much of that. Pratt invited me [to a panel] to hear this alderman named Joe Moore from Chicago, who was the first person in the United States to be doing Participatory Budgeting...I thought they were inviting me...to talk about all our good community planning work but really, they were inviting me so that after Joe Moore presented about Participatory Budgeting...they could ask [if I would] commit right [then] to doing Participatory Budgeting...I was caught, and it seemed like a good idea. In some ways, [Pratt] cleverly organized so that they could make me do [Participatory Budgeting] but looking at the bigger picture, that basic idea that what government is supposed to be about is people in communities working together on common and shared goals is why I’m interested in being in public office, and we’re not very good at that. Faith in government is at an all-time low. You look at these [presidential] elections and you can see why, and we have a lot more to do to show people that government can be a strong vehicle for coming together to take care of the stuff that we love like our parks, our libraries, and our schools, and [for] solving problems together.

Ilana Cohen: How is the PBNYC process valuable for the District 39 community?

Brad Lander: I think [it is valuable] for a lot of reasons. We get great projects and the projects that have already been implemented are really wonderful projects. There are a lot of streets and intersections that are safer [as a result], there are improvements in the public libraries, and you [can] see the kids in the Windsor Terrace and Carroll Gardens libraries using the technology that’s in there. [You can see] the areas in Prospect Park where the drainage has been fixed, or see what the new reading garden is going to be like. We get great projects, but we also get the energy of creative ideas and the strength that comes from people working together.

Ilana Cohen: Has the PB process in District 39 changed over the last 5 years since it was first implemented?

Brad Lander: Yes! We have more young people involved. This year, for the first time, we’re doing expense projects as well as capital projects, and some of the projects on the expense ballot are really exciting. More people are involved. We’ve definitely had growth in the number of people who are voting, and of course, more people are doing [participatory budgeting] all around New York City. When we started, we were only four districts, and most people thought it was a little strange or weird. Now, more than half of the city has Participatory Budgeting in their districts and last year, over 50,000 people voted.  

Ilana Cohen: What are the benefits of doing expense projects in addition to capital projects this year?

Brad Lander: One great thing about PB is the way it stokes people’s creativity, and things that we otherwise wouldn’t think to do can get on the ballot. The reading garden was really creative...But there’s some risk [in the PBNYC process] that things get settled in their ways, and with the capital projects...you can be creative, but it gets harder and harder. I think that having expense projects allowed a new kind of creativity. And in some ways, the expense projects are always going to be a little easier to be creative with than the capital projects because you can do anything. With the capital projects, you have a whole, heavy set of rules...there are things we just can’t do with capital funding that are dynamite ideas. Everything on the expense ballot--the translation equipment, the support for school integration--is an inspiring idea. I wish [all the projects] could get funded.

Ilana Cohen: What is your favorite part of the PB process and why?

Brad Lander: Hm, that’s a good question. It’s hard because I like all the parts so much. I guess I like the Expo the best. That’s the most engaged voters getting to meet the people who have done all this work and getting to talk to them about why they care about their projects. The conversations that take place there really capture the depth of the passion and creativity that the delegates have...Especially [as] last year was the first year you could vote at the Expo. There’s a lot of good parts of PB, but I think the Expo would be my favorite.

Ilana Cohen: What advice do you have for youth who want to become engaged in the Participatory Budgeting process?

Brad Lander: We would love to have more young people involved and we’re open to finding new ways and ideas to make that happen. Sometimes, people come with a project they love from a particular school. I think the expense funding in the future could be a unique place for people to bring their ideas....I think that people are most engaged when they have a project or idea that they are excited about, but the danger is that they don’t all make the ballot. So if you come with an idea and it doesn’t make the ballot, then you might be a little sad.

Ilana Cohen: What do you think are a few of the most inspiring or helpful projects that have won the District 39 PB cycle in the past?

Brad Lander: My favorite will always be that very first one...the bathroom renovations at P.S.124, partly because we leveraged that into bigger change, and partly because those kids were just so cute...And that project was actually able to get implemented very quickly. One challenge is that it often takes a long time to implement the PB projects. Another one of my favorite projects from that first year was the compost equipment for the Gowanus Canal Conservancy and that still doesn’t exist now...But [the bathroom project at P.S. 124] got implemented just a few months later and the kids were very happy. And then, after two years of having the top winning [PB] projects be school bathrooms, we said, ”Let’s push the Department of Education to fund a $100 million school initiative to fix up bathrooms.” So that was not only a good project, but a big success story. [Now] I’m really excited about the reading garden, which hasn’t been implemented yet, but is moving forward quickly...The library technology is fun because I’m in those libraries a lot and I get to see people putting it to use.

Ilana Cohen: Is it easier for any specific participatory budgeting committee to have winning participatory budgeting projects?

Brad Lander: Yes, and this a sort of debate between the constituents and the delegates. The schools have a built in constituency and so they have an easier time turning people out to vote than other [issues] that people care about, but might not feel as connected to. That said, every year a library project has gotten funded, a parks project has gotten funded. Prospect Park draws so many people from the district and the borough, so it gets a lot of love. Part of the idea of limiting the number of projects on the ballot to three per category is to make sure that no one kind of project gets all the funding.

Ilana Cohen: Does the District 39 Participatory Budgeting process coordinate with the Participatory Budgeting processes in other New York City districts?

Brad Lander: Yes, in New York City and now, all around the country. In New York, when we started [doing PBNYC], it was just [in] four districts: Melissa Mark-Viverito in East Harlem, Jumaane D. Williams in East Flatbush, Eric Ulric in the Rockaways, and here. Those four districts did work pretty closely together, along with the Participatory Budgeting Project...and Community Voices heard...We developed a common rulebook and developed the [PBNYC] process...Once Melissa became Speaker, she brought PB into the city council. Now, there’s staff within the city council’s central staff who help coordinate and organize the whole process...There’s a citywide steering committee, council members, council staff, budget delegates, district committee members, citywide partners, all together thinking about how to make the best policies we can citywide. And members don’t have to do all the things the same way. We [in District 39] piloted expense funding this year even though that’s not part of the citywide process, but [we got] a lot of support...The first year [of the PB process] we counted the votes...Now, the votes are all scanned and counted by a central counting organization, and ballots are all printed centrally, so there’s a lot of support that contributes to the PB process.

How You Can Help: The Ways for Volunteers to Get Out the PB Vote

  As the PB Vote Week approaches in District 39, there are many ways for constituents to become involved in the exciting and democratic process of PB! Whether by voting or spreading the word, everyone in the district can make a difference and get out the PB vote. Here are a few of the specific ways you can do so:

Volunteer During Vote Week:

  Vote Week, the culmination of the PB process, will be the week of March 26th through April 3rd. Not only can constituents vote on the PB ballot, but PB volunteers can actually run the voting poll sites. This would involve either setting up a table at a designated PB voting location or running a mobile voting site, which would most likely mean going out with an iPad to verify voters’ addresses, a stack of PB ballots, and some PB spirit! Also, in preparation for the PB Vote Week, there will be flyering throughout the District 39 neighborhoods to ensure that information about the PB vote is in the public sphere.

Spread the Word:

  Many district residents are interested in participating in local democracy and want to voice their opinions on neighborhood issues. PB is an amazing opportunity for constituents to become more involved in government processes and make a difference in their own communities. Explaining this and of course, how the PB process works, to others in your area of District 39 could inspire others to vote in PB and perhaps, even participate in next year’s PB cycle.

  Especially as the age limit for PB voting has been lowered this cycle to 14 years or older, many more district constituents are able vote! Teenangers can play an important role in PB and in voice a youth perspective on what improvements they want to see in the district.

PB volunteers can even spread the PB word by scouting out possible PB voting sites around the district. Schools, libraries, and other community centers are some of the places where possible PB voters may be found.

Stay Up-To-Date:

  Several PB events are coming up prior to Vote Week, and there are many ways to stay updated on what’s coming next. One way, of course, is reading the PB Youth Blog. City Council Member Brad Lander’s website (http://bradlander.nyc/) also has information on PB under the PBNYC page. You can even get updates on the District 39 PB process by signing up for Council Member Lander’s mailing list. Also, if you can text 212-676-8384 to get mobile updates about the PB process.

  Here are a few of the upcoming District 39 PB events:

PB Poster-Making Workshop: March 16th

PB Project Expo: March 29th

PB Vote Week: March 26th-April 3rd

Promote PB Online:

  Take the PB pledge to vote (http://bradlander.nationbuilder.com/pb2016volunteerpledge)! Feel free to tell others about the PB pledge and share the link over social media, which can be a valuable tool in terms of spreading the word about the PB process in District 39. Tell people why you participate in PB because you may inspire them to become involved in PB as well. And the more PB voters and participants, the more open and beneficial the PB process becomes for our District 39 community!
  For more information, feel free to fill out the contact form on this blog with any questions, comments or suggestions!

PB Around the World: A Brief History of International Participatory Budgeting Processes

For five years, residents of District 39 have known what is now known by residents of 27 districts citywide, several cities in both the United States and Canada, across Latin America, Africa, and Australia: Participatory budgeting is an unrivaled method of empowering communities, giving residents the opportunity to collectively decide how to spend public funds.

In 2005, a coalition of PB activists and researchers from the US and Canada began to organize and hold conference sessions and workshops, publish informational writing on the PB process, and spread the word about PB.  In 2009, the group established the Participatory Budgeting Project (PBP), a non-profit organization whose goal has been to encourage small communities and cities to try their hands at PB.  Their goal was first realized that year when Chicago Alderman Joe Moore became the nation’s first elected official to use PB, designating over $1 million of his ward’s discretionary funds for the cause. Soon afterwards, the PB process was implemented in Toronto, and in 2011, was implemented in New York City. Since then, districts of San Francisco and St. Louis as well as the entire cities of Boston and Vallejo, California, have allocated money for PB:

City	Chicago, U.S.	Boston, U.S.	Vallejo, U.S.	Toronto, Canada
Amount ($) Allocated	$5 Million	$1 Million	$3.28 Million	$200,000
Past Projects	-sidewalk bump-outs to improve pedestrian safety -turf fields and playgrounds at local elementary schools -repaved streets -replanting over 110 streets	-20 surveillance cameras in a local park to increase security and protection -designated wall space for local graffiti artists to showcase their work -laptops for local schools	-community gardens developed offering nutritional education to kids -repaired lighting, flooring, and windows at a local senior center -low cost spaying and neutering procedures for pets	-adequate lighting for natural ice skating in local parks -painting of a mural on a bridge over a local highway -refurbishment of a bocce court in a local park

Other major cities participating in the PB process include:

Seville, Spain:

·         Seville is the largest European city with PB, having 20,000 participants and a $19 million annual allocation. Residents make decisions on nearly 50% of local spending in their city districts.

Durham, UK:

·         In Durham, the City Council has allocated £500,000 for its fourteen local engagement structures and held conferences regarding local priorities and the Council’s budget.

Porto Alegre, Brazil:

·         Porto Alegre became the first full city to institute a PB process in 1989. Today, around 50,000 vote annually in its PB process, deciding how to spend as much as 20% of the city’s entire budget.  

La Plata, Argentina:

·         In this city, up to 51,000 citizens gather in neighborhood assemblies to discuss their various needs and propose projects for the public to fund. Since 2008, over $10 million has been spent annually on the La Plata’s PB projects.

This map from PBP shows the locations of PB processes around the world.

With 51,000 voters and $32 million allocated in 2015, New York City has taken a leading role in advancing the progressive movement in discretionary funding.  In recent years, District 39 has become a PB trailblazer promoting equity and civic engagement throughout the city. 

Teen Teamwork: An Overview of the PB Youth Kickoff Meeting

    

The PB youth kickoff meeting took place at Du Jour in Park Slope, where a group of passionate teens from around District 39 gathered to learn about youth engagement in the PB process.

     This past Thursday afternoon, a group of 12 enthusiastic teens met at a local cafe to discuss the importance of participatory budgeting (PB) and the ways in which they could become involved. Enthusiastic and creative ideas were developed into sample project proposals within a mock PB process that allowed participants to gain a deeper understanding of the inspiring work that PB can produce. The teens thought about what types of projects would appeal to a broader range of district constituents and worked together in envisioning lasting, meaningful projects that would drive positive change in our District 39 community. 

The Meeting's Agenda:

     The meeting began with a presentation about the PB process that explained how PB worked, who was involved in PB, and the committees that often emerge throughout the PB cycle. Teens then adopted certain committees for the mock PB process in order to have a new perspective from which to propose a project. From there, it was all up to the imagination of the participants! Teen participant Isabella Rhodes says that she didn't realize the power youth hold to inspire change until she saw the enthusiasm and insight involved in the meeting's mock PB process.
     The teen education committee proposed technological upgrades and building renovations for a select under-resourced school, while the arts, culture, and community facilities committee encouraged the creation of a makerspace in district libraries complete with 3D printers and a mobile arts studio that would travel to schools throughout the district. Meanwhile, the streets and sidewalks committee proposed the winning project of the mock PB process: solar-paneled street lamps. An environmentally sustainable and inspiring idea, the solar-powered street lamps would save money for the district government by reducing electricity costs while promoting the use of clean energy for other districts. 

A Lasting Impression:

The participants in the meeting engaged in an open discussion about the meaning of the PB process and the primary goals behind it.

    From the sample projects developed in the committee, teens were able to clearly see the fundamental aim of PB: making ideal neighborhood improvements a reality. PB is an incredibly inclusive and open-ended process, allowing any district constituent to push for the change they want to see while uniting with others from different neighborhoods to achieve a common goal. Real PB committees don't come up with their ideas so quickly and have to take financial feasibility, popularity, and effectiveness into account when developing their top ideas, yet they strive to create inclusive and needed projects just as the teens at the meeting did.
    Kevin Manuele, a high school sophomore who attended the PB youth kickoff meeting, describes his understanding of the PB as a process as one that provides all district constituents with "the opportunity to participate in government and make sure their tax dollars go to things that they care about and [that] have an intrinsic effect on them and their community." Among other teens, Kevin focused on the environmental aspect of PB during his participation in the meeting, as well as on the importance of reaching an economically diverse constituency. Kevin explains how through PB, people can really see local democracy in action: "I realized [at the PB meeting] that real change starts on a small, local level and that the best way to improve the world is to do what you can with the resources available."
     High school student Isabella Rhodes states that learning about the PB process was "truly eye-opening." Despite not knowing much about PB prior to the event, she is now eager to be involved. Isabella says, "Coming to the PB meeting changed my perspective on the power and responsibility teens have in our community...By coming together, teens are capable of real change in local government, whether that's [by] improving the conditions of a public school or building a garden space for NYC kids."


Equity and PB:

     The relationship between PB and the idea of equity was an important topic that came up at the meeting. As teens discussed at the event, PB is meant to be a fair and impartial process that takes into account the needs and wants of a broad range of district constituents, as opposed to prioritizing neighborhoods that are more affluent or have more advocates involved in PB. 
     High school student Lara Schuman says that she learned a lot about the relationship between PB and equity in the meeting's discussion: "PB isn't for one person's benefit or for one group's benefit, it's for an entire community of people. And from there, [the ideas of PB] can spread so that everyone has the same opportunities."
     Lara adds that during the PB meeting, she learned that "you can really make a difference and [that] people do care about problems in schools and in the environment. People aren't overlooking these issues, they care about what's in their community and they want to make improvements. And we can do something about this as teens, we have a say in PB."