♪Unlimited♪

♪Together we’re unlimited♪

We’re excited to share some important updates with you. Thanks to your continued dedication, advocacy, and hard work, big changes are on the horizon for RVAPB!

In this edition of our newsletter, you’ll find:

• A preview of the upcoming changes to RVAPB

• An update on Phase 2 of our evaluation

• A brand-new overview video for Participatory Budgeting (PB)

This issue is a quick 3–5 minute read—we hope you enjoy it!

Council → CAO:

At the November 10th Richmond City Council meeting, Mayor Danny Avula, in coordination with CAO Odie Donald, introduced a paper proposing that the Richmond People’s Budget (RVAPB) program, staff, and Steering Commission transition under the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO). 

Currently, the RVAPB is housed under City Council. Since former Councilmember Andreas Addison first introduced participatory budgeting to Richmond in 2019, the program has remained on the legislative side making Richmond one of two active cities in the U.S. where a PB program is housed within a City Council office. 

So, why does this matter? 

If approved, the move will bring the RVAPB team closer to the city staff responsible for implementing PB projects, improving collaboration and coordination. It would also open doors to new partnerships across departments not typically connected to City Council. 

Ultimately, this transition could strengthen the program with added resources, external partnerships, and interdepartmental support ensuring the Richmond People’s Budget continues grow and deliver on the projects selected by community members.  

Want to follow the ordinance?  

The PB transfer paper has been sent to the Finance Standing Committee for consideration. This meeting will be hosted on November 19th, 2025, at 2PM, there will be access to public comment.

Following this, if the ordinance is approved, it will be sent to the consent agenda for the regular City Council Meeting happening on December 8th at 6PM. Access to public comment will be available for this meeting as well.

Read the Ordinance here: Ord. No. 2025-251

RVAPB Evaluation Phase 2:

At RVAPB, we believe that transparency is essential to building a sustainable and committed initiative. We’re proud to share that the VCU L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs has completed Phase 2 of our evaluation, with a focus on participation and accessibility. 

We invite you to explore what we’ve accomplished so far. At the same time, we recognize that this is an ongoing journey. As we continue to improve our processes, we’re deeply grateful for this partnership—which helps keep us accountable and aligned with our mission and values. 

We also would like to touch on a few key points that were brought up in this evaluation: 

• A new website is on the way! 
  Our new website platform is Decidim, we are currently working with a specialist to develop an easy-to-navigate space that supports our transparency/accountability efforts. In addition, as we coordinate with relevant departments, we are logging these interactions to offer community a CLEAR vision of where each project is! We really appreciate you all’s patience, it goes without saying this process is a first for ALL of us. 

• Expanding our reach for Cycle 2 
  As we gear up for the next cycle, our goal is to make PB more visible and accessible to everyone. We’ll be hosting more workshops across the city, collecting ideas at community events, and showing up in as many spaces as possible—hopefully so often that you’ll be tired of seeing us (in the best way!). 

• Continued trust and support 
  We’re grateful to have earned the trust of Richmond residents to carry this work forward. We’re also grateful for the continued support from City Council and City Administration. With this strong foundation, we’re excited about the future of Cycle 2—and already looking ahead to Cycle 3. 

  Check out the full evaluation here: https://www.rvapb.org/blog-posts/phase-2-evaluation 

New Promo Alert:

Check out this RVAPB overview video – we have a friendly challenge for you, send this to someone that you know DID NOT hear about or participated in PB cycle 1