Student Leaders For Participatory Budgeting
Student Leaders for Participatory Budgeting
SLPB Origins: Our Student Leaders for Participatory Budgeting (SLPB) program was created after the successful completion of Youth Voice, Youth Vote PB. YV2 was a one-off project that engaged over 1,200 youth in East Multnomah County and North Clackamas. Through this process, our organization cultivated significant excitement from students and teachers attending schools in East Multnomah County. This led to our organization shifting our focus to launch school-based PB and developing the Student Leaders for Participatory Budgeting program to sustain and continue momentum for youth leadership in decision-making processes. The Student Leaders Program (SLP) is a highly successful six-month leadership development opportunity for passionate students attending school at David Douglas, Gresham, Parkrose, and Reynolds high schools.Working alongside Participatory Budgeting Oregon (PB Oregon), participants become experts in school-based Participatory Budgeting (PB) by researching their campuses' readiness and organizing their peers to launch their own PB process. This rigorous program is key to establishing foundational relationships with teachers, administrators, and school board directors, ultimately creating a tangible plan for future student empowerment initiatives.
Program Details
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Through in-person skills trainings and virtual community meetings, the Student Leaders gain leadership skills and professional competencies in:
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PB Expertise: Become knowledgeable in the history and mechanics of Participatory Budgeting, which are rooted in the Brazilian Workers Movement. Participants will gain a deep understanding of how fiscal transparency and collaborative decision making are cornerstones of a truly participatory democracy.
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Civic Research & Advocacy: Learn about the application of PB principles to specific contexts to schools, and develop skills in operationalizing community input as integral to the PB process.
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Community Organizing & Dialogue: Develop facilitative abilities rooted in popular education, critical pedagogies, and participatory action research.
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Leadership & Self-Assessment: Cultivate individual leadership philosophies grounded in mutual community development and adept navigation of complex decision-making and deliberative processes.
Program Deliverables
The main goal for the Student Leaders is to conduct research and assessment to determine the readiness and strategy for launching PB within their school districts. Their final project results in a professional report.
Key Tasks & Requirements​Campus Assessment & Research: Research and summarize budget documents; learn about the budgeting process at their campus; meet with district/campus staff or elected officials.
Community Organizing Strategy: Develop a strategy to reach out to potentially interested teachers; identify key school clubs/organizations; present to relevant groups about school-based PB; and develop buy-in from peers.
Final Report & Presentation: Produce a comprehensive report on the school context and specific recommendations for launching PB on their campus. Give brief informational presentations on the basics of PB to stakeholders.​Personal Leadership Growth: Craft a leadership statement on their personal strengths and leadership style.
