East Metro Region Youth to Influence Use of $500,000 of ARPA Funding for COVID-19 Recovery through “Youth Voice, Youth Vote Participatory Budgeting”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 13, 2022
Participatory Budgeting Oregon has co-launched Oregon’s first participatory budgeting process Youth Voice, Youth Vote PB (YV² PB) to decide how tax dollars are spent for COVID-19 recovery in two Oregon Senate districts
Hundreds of youth in the East Metro Region, including East Portland, Gresham, Wood Village, Fairview, and Multnomah and North Clackamas Counties will generate ideas from October to December for future projects in their communities using federal funds. This idea collection period will take place at locations across the region and virtually for youth ages 13-25 to discuss and submit ideas. The website, YouthPB.org, will launch next week with the idea collection features activated. On October 22, youth leaders will host an event at Parkrose High School Library to kick-off the first community forum.
Participatory budgeting (PB) activates people’s power over real money in a structured process that redistributes power and resources to benefit under-represented and under-resourced populations. PB is one mechanism for community-led recovery amid the COVID-19 pandemic being used in other communities across the country to democratically allocate ARPA funds.
Youth leaders who designed Youth Voice, Youth Vote PB developed program rules and five categories to stimulate project ideas that would be impactful for and by youth ages 13-25.
Eligible categories:
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Youth health services
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Housing and homeless services
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Youth public art
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Youth recreation and cultural programs
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Economic justice
Program goals:
The goal of YV² PB (pronounced Y V Squared P B) is to foster and support youth civic leadership and public health in the process of identifying community-driven COVID-19 relief and recovery projects funded by $500,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. These ARPA funds were committed by State Legislators Kayse Jama, Chris Gorsek, and Ricki Ruiz. Cycle 1 of this youth-led participatory budgeting process is occurring within Senate Districts 24 and 25 and House District 50 in East Multnomah and North Clackamas Counties.
Program timeline:
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June through September 2022: Youth steering committee develops program rules and direction.
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October through December 2022: Youth across the region submit project ideas.
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January through April 2023: Crowdsourced project ideas are developed into project proposals.
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May through July 2023: Community members vote on top proposals.
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July 2023 and onward: Winning projects are implemented.
Participatory budgeting (PB) activates people’s power over real money in a structured process that redistributes power and resources to benefit under-represented and under-resourced populations. PB is one mechanism for community-led recovery amid the COVID-19 pandemic being used in other communities across the country to democratically allocate ARPA funds.
Jama, Gorsek, Ruiz, the Seeding Justice Foundation, and five non-profit organizations are collaborating to make YV² PB possible. East County Rising Community Projects, Participatory Budgeting Oregon, Play Grow Learn, The Rosewood Initiative, and Unite Oregon are core implementing organizations.
Future implementation:
A second cycle to follow this initial effort could allocate additional public funds within a similar project area in 2023 and 2024. Over the course of two participatory budgeting cycles, Participatory Budgeting Oregon and partnering organizations aim to engage at least 5,000 youth in exercising their power to benefit their communities. This process aims to expand civic leadership and organizing skills while enhancing and rebuilding community, relationships, and mental health outcomes.
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ABOUT PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING OREGON
PB Oregon is an Oregon-incorporated tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. PB Oregon works for more participatory and just public budgeting for all Oregonians by centering the expertise and leadership of underrepresented communities. Through popular education and participatory democracy PB Oregon grows community power to effectively direct resources toward public needs.
For more information, interviews, photo requests, and inquiries in Spanish, please email Blanca Gaytan Farfan, blanca@pboregon.org. Se Habla Español.
