RVAPB in Aquariusss
Celebrating 5 years of the PB Steering Commission
On February 8, 2026 the Participatory Budgeting (PB) Steering Commission marked five years since its establishment. Since its founding, the Commission has remained resident-focused, resident-led, and grounded in community voice.
The PB Steering Commission laid the foundation for the program by developing its guiding framework and rulebook, ensuring that every phase of the process centers Richmond residents and reflects community priorities. Their leadership has been instrumental in shaping a process that is transparent, equitable, and accountable to the public.
The Commission is responsible for selecting PB Budget Delegates, approving the final slate of projects before they are transmitted to City staff for technical review and implementation planning, and finalizing the voting rubric ahead of each voting cycle. Through these responsibilities, the Steering Commission safeguards the integrity of the process and ensures that community members remain decision-makers at every stage.
On the first Wednesday of the Month, the Commission gathers to guide these efforts. If you are interested in joining them, keep an eye open on our Instagram and website.
The RVAPB Commission Welcomes New Members
Congratulations to:
Abigail Delaney, Peter Berry, Lacey Hancher, Jamaal Mitchell, and Quawneisha Peoples on their appointments to the Richmond Participatory Budgeting Steering Commission! This will be Abbey and Quawneisha’s second term on the commission and the others bringing new energy and ideas.
PB Durham- Cycle IV voting wrapped!
Our PB Sister City Durham North Carolina just finished voting for their fourth cycle! This is no small feat – PB processes are so innovative and ambitious, taking a lot of work and commitment to be realized. Reaching a fourth cycle that has seen consistent increases in engagement and the quality of the outcomes is a true testament to the devotion of their team and effectiveness of direct democracy.
The RVAPB team had the pleasure of spending last Thursday evening on the phone with Carmen Ortiz, the program’s director. Carmen shared many lessons learned and insights into how their program has been sustained over the years.
As we often mention, evaluation and process refinement are ongoing. While the team looks forward to continuing to further this work – we have the great opportunity and obligation to learn from our peers and ourselves.
If you want to see what projects were selected for funding during PB Durham’s fourth cycle visit their website and/ or follow their socials!
A piece of the pie + the recipe
Ever wonder how budgeting decisions are made in the city’s overall budget? Now is your time to get in on the action! Like most cities, spring is budget season in the City of Richmond. In early March Mayor Avula will be presenting his budget proposal, a culmination of a year’s work by departments across the City. Then City Council will review and discuss the budget, eventually voting to approve the final version in May.
Right now, the Chief Administrative Officer Mr. Donald is hosting a series of Budget Town Halls all around the city! Click the link below to register and be a part of the action.
Learn More about the Budget Town Halls
Hacking in the name of Civic Innovation
RVA Hacks is a civic innovation hackathon happening here in Richmond from March 27th – 29th The objective of this hackathon is to convene subject matter experts, solution-architects and community to solve real civic problems. The weekend will be spent distilling problem statements and producing proof-of-concepts. There will be prizes for the winning projects – and guess how they’ll be selected... ranked choice voting 😎!
