A happy October to the Richmond People’s Budget Community.

While things may seem a little quiet at the moment, there are lots of good things happening. The biggest focus at the moment is continuing to turn the ideas that community members voted on into reality. To do this, we have been meeting with City Departments, various boards and commissions, City Council members, and the community. We are finding a deep commitment to building relationships, understanding the complexity of how projects get done, the depth of knowledge in every department, and the hopes that community have for the future of Richmond.

Soon you are going to see:

• A new website where you can follow your favorite projects.

• A new video highlighting the vision and people behind the Richmond People’s Budget.

• A social media campaign sharing both the supported and visionary projects that residents shared.

As always this couldn’t be done without the support of residents, City Council, City departments, and our community partners.

Project Highlight: District Seven

Did you know 11 bat species call Richmond home, playing a vital role in pollination and pest control? This spring, over 860 residents of the 7th District voted, and one of the selected projects was the installation of Bat Boxes. Thanks to collaboration with the Department of Parks & Recreation and community garden members, these boxes will soon be installed at all community gardens in the 7th District.

Stay tuned! Be on the lookout for upcoming workshops and project scoping sessions in your community.

Participatory Budgeting Process (PBP) Learning Exchange:

In late September, the National Participatory Budgeting Project gathered practitioners, advocates, and researchers together from across the US for a learning exchange in Orange, NJ. The goal was to share practices and knowledge, build new relationships, strengthen networks, and spark new collaborations.

Sessions over the two days focused on creating a PB research agenda, cultivating democracy with arts and culture, tools for accountable development, schools as centers for collaborative governance, and demystifying City Budgets.

This was the first gathering of national groups working on participatory budgeting since meeting in Phoenix, AZ in 2018.

When a Reaction turns into Community Action: Francine and Civic Infrastructure

Welcome home Francine! Nothing Beats a Jet 2 Holiday! The PB Team has been closely following the search and rescue efforts for Richmond’s beloved feline, Francine. We want to extend our deepest gratitude to every community member and organization that helped bring her home. This is a powerful testament to our city's civic infrastructure and the network of people and organizations with shared values that allowed for her safe return home. Francine's return is a perfect example of what can be accomplished when our community's spirit and willingness to engage are brought together and activated.

We hope she stays safe in our community, however if she needs another vacation, may we recommend a few “more relaxing” Lowes distribution centers.  

1. Kissimmee, FL (Home of Disney World and Universal)

2. Henderson, NV (Suburb of Las Vegas)

3. San Lerado, CA (Nearby to San Francisco)

In all seriousness shoutout to all the folks who brought Francine home safe, the PB Staff and residents of Richmond are forever grateful.

Inspirations Station: RVAPB🤝Office of Sustainability

Dracula isn’t the only one trying to escape the sun, Richmonders are too!

Have you heard about the Richmond Cool Kit, the new strategy guide from the Office of Suitability? We wanted to give a shout-out to Sustainability for all their hard work sharing examples of projects that beat the heat. Many of which came up in the first cycle of RVAPB, including temporary shade structures and planting trees. 

If you're interested in learning more about these projects and the great work our partners are doing, click Richmond Cool Kit — RVAgreen 2050 for your own copy of the Cool Kit.