Background

Youth are uniquely impacted by COVID-19 and are vastly underrepresented in government decisions made on their behalf. That’s why five collaborating non-profit organizations, the Seeding Justice Foundation, and three State Legislators launched the Youth Voice, Youth Vote PB (YV² PB) in 2022.

 

Oregon's first participatory budgeting process, YV² PB enlists youth and their families to propose and select roughly $500,000 in COVID-19 relief and recovery projects in State Senate Districts 24 and 25, a project area that spans East Portland, East Multnomah County, and portions of North Clackamas County and over seven school districts.

 

The first cycle of PB in 2022 and 2023 will allocate American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars committed by State Legislators Kayse Jama, Chris Gorsek, and Ricki Ruiz. A second cycle could allocate ARPA funds from the City of Portland and City of Gresham within a smaller project area in 2023 and 2024. Over the course of two PB cycles, YV² PB aims to engage at least 5,000 people in exercising their power to benefit their communities and spearhead PB in Oregon.

 

In the process, YV² PB promises to expand civic leadership and organizing skills while enhancing and rebuilding community, relationships, and mental health outcomes.