A Bang for your Buck: Project Proposals Coming Soon!
RVAPB Updates:
As you know, the Richmond People’s Budget conducted phase 1 of its Participatory Budgeting cycle from September through November of 2024. This kickoff phase was a huge success. PB staff and Commission members hit the streets running and we were ALL EARS. Listening to concerned, excited and thoughtful members of the communities. Educating the public on Participatory Budgeting while discussing real possibilities for change was the team’s main focus.
Our engagement efforts resulted in us collecting 1,926 unique ideas from Richmond residents in all 9 voting districts. Now it is time to continue the work and turn those ideas into projects. To make this happen we’ve activated our Budget Delegate Commission, a diverse group of roughly 27 residents that will prioritize and refine the idea submissions in preparation for voting.
Looking ahead our next big milestone will be producing the official ballots for voting - and then, you guessed it… voting.
Check out what your neighbors suggested! https://www.rvapb.org/phases/brainstorm
Meet your Delegates:
Please give a virtual round of applause for the first ever RVAB Budget Delegates! From January through February, the Budget Delegates will meet once a week to review ideas, host listening sessions and write project proposals.
Community Highlight:
This week we are highlighting the work of the Richmond Transparency & Accountability Project (RTAP). Their involvement has been instrumental in the RVAPB initiative. They have assisted in organizing the community to gather ideas.
“When we come together in our organizations and communities, we become catalysts for change—ensuring that our priorities are heard, and our needs are met.” - Yohance Whitaker, Lead Organizer with RTAP.
Want to learn more? check out their site! https://www.richmondvatap.org/