Civic Engagement in Action
Participatory Budgeting — “The Gateway to Democracy”
If you are 11-years-old or older, you can vote next week (March 30-April 7) on how your City Council District will spend $1 million in your neighborhood.
Participatory Budgeting (PB) is an opportunity for community members to make decisions on ways to improve their neighborhoods. People vote on projects proposed by other community members and receive funding from tax dollars. Vote Week allows for people to vote for projects that improve the neighborhood as they see fit.
The Participatory Budgeting Project has found that PB sparks a variety of powerful, lasting impacts across a community including increased civic engagement, more collaboration between people and government, accessibility to people who have faced historical barriers to participation and voting, opportunities for new community leaders, and more equitable and effective spending.
Brooklyn Friends School community members — especially students — who are at least 11-years-old are encouraged to participate in creating communities that reflect the young people that live there! And take selfies with #YouthVotePB, #PBNYC, and #BFSVotes after voting for projects that further uplift what you want to see in your communities!
Find out if your District is taking part, what’s on the ballot, and where to vote during Vote Week:
Additionally, a representative from Girls for Gender Equity will lead Participatory Budgeting sessions with our 9th graders on April 1st and 2nd at 12:50pm during their Service & Justice classes. If any BFS community members would like to join, please contact Director of Service Learning & Civic Engagement Natania Kremer.
