Our Wins
Collectively building a world where everyone knows their power and everyone's voice counts.
Our Start: Bringing PB to Oregon
In 2018, we co-hosted a community forum with Healthy Democracy entitled "Bringing Participatory Budgeting to the Portland-Region." Held at the Rosewood Initiative, the event brought together over 100 participants and guest speakers in a series of panel and small group discussions. The forum produced this summary report with recommendations to local governments for implementing participatory budgeting in Oregon. It also led directly to the founding of PB Oregon. Since then we have achieved an number of wins for PB in Oregon:
-
Launched Oregon’s first PB process, Youth Voice Youth Vote PB, wherein 13-25 year olds decide on how to spend $500,000 in federal funds for COVID recovery.
-
Led the design and launch of Oregon Health Authority’s first PB process for data collection and analysis for future pandemic preparedness.
-
Helped secure or allocate nearly $1.7 million in public funds for PB in Oregon.
-
Led dozens of workshops and briefings with community organizations, public officials and local governments to raise awareness of PB, how it works, and its potential impacts and benefits for more equitable participation and outcomes.
-
Built a diverse and growing multiracial and intergenerational network of PB advocates in Oregon.
-
Led a campaign to develop a PB Charter amendment in the City of Portland.
-
Established an organization based on participatory and liberatory practices that resources staff to grow, thrive, and contribute in a worker-directed nonprofit.
-
Resourced the time and expertise of youth leaders, individuals, and organizations with over $150,000 for PB advocacy and implementation.
-
Led the effort to include PB in Portland’s first Portland Clean Energy Fund Climate Investment Plan through Climate-friendly Schools.
-
Led a successful effort with the Portland Charter Commission to develop and propose a Charter Amendment that would require the City to implement an annual PB process open to all residents. The City Council did not refer the PB charter amendment to the voters, but PB Oregon and Next Up are exploring doing so via initiative petition. To learn more and to get involved see Portland Community Budgeting For All!
Some of Our Funders
