Bringing Power Back to the People
Supporting education and innovation in democracy
We envision a community where citizens have the power, tools and resources to identify, develop, and fund solutions to various community challenges. The participants in this collaborative process reflect the diverse socioeconomic and racial composition of our community.
Our mission is to advocate for and create an infrastructure so that interested citizens can participate meaningfully in designing and funding solutions to civic problems that are significant to their communities.
Participatory Budgeting Evanston
Participatory budgeting allows people who live, work or study in Evanston to decide how spend $3 million to address our city’s needs, make government policy more equitable, and train future leaders. Over 6500 people voted (8.4% of Evanston’s 78,000 residents) — congratulations Evanston on this historic turnout!
Participatory Budgeting Northwestern
NU’s first mini-PB process will let students decide how to spend $1000 to address climate change at NU and meet Evanston’s Climate Action and Resilience Plan goals. This demonstration project will generate ideas, develop knowledge and leadership and build public support for sustainability initiatives at NU and open democracy in the city of Evanston.
Civic Saturdays
Civic Saturday gatherings are one-part conversation, one-part civics book club and one-part celebration, all focused on inspiring a renewed sense shared civic purpose and culture. In the conversation part, we will break into small groups and respectfully grapple with meaningful issues. In the book club part, we will listen to civic texts from past and present and reflect on their meaning to our community today. Throughout, we will come together in joyous celebration and share food, music and social time together. Before we leave, we’ll take time to create new connections in the community that will help us to implement the ideas we take away from the gathering.
“The historic level of turnout in our participatory budgeting process is another demonstration of Evanston’s passionate and engaged citizenry … Our residents’ ideas and involvement are truly our greatest asset, and a sign of how much we can accomplish when we all work together.”
— Daniel Biss, Mayor of Evanston