We hope you're all staying warm and well! As the year winds down and attention shifts, we wanted to share one final update before we head into 2026.

In this edition of our newsletter you’ll find:

• The RVAPB Commission Meeting Recap

• Tracker Updates

• On the Move

• Inspiration Station

• HRC Shoutout

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

RVAPB Commission Meeting Recap:

This past week, the RVAPB Commission held its final meeting of the year to celebrate the success of our inaugural cycle and begin planning for what’s ahead. We were honored to welcome past, present, and incoming commission members to reflect on our progress and collaborate on the next phase of our work.

As we prepare for Cycle 2, the Commission is focused on revising the PB Ordinance to expand resident participation and better reflect the growth of our initiative and the evolving needs of Richmond. This includes:

• Refreshing the PB Rulebook to align with updated materials

• Improving accessibility to ensure more residents can engage meaningfully

• Strengthening community representation in decision-making processes

We want to extend our deepest gratitude to all the RVAPB Commission members who made this initiative possible. Your hard work, dedication, and commitment to the communities you serve have been the driving force behind the success of Richmond’s first PB cycle.

Trackers Update:

As we've shared in previous newsletters, we’ve been working hard on a new engagement platform designed to make it easier for you to stay informed and involved in your community. But it’s not done yet. In keeping with one of our core values, transparency, we’ve created a temporary project trackers to help you follow selected Cycle 1 projects until the new platform is live.

While this isn’t the final version, these trackers will serve as a central hub for checking in on district projects. Each project is color-coded by district, and by clicking on the number, you’ll be able to view the project’s description, estimated cost, and the latest updates.

As we receive more information, we’ll continue to refresh the updates to include department details, community conversations, next steps, and any other relevant information.

Click the button down below and check out the latest updates.

On the Move

If you remember from last month, RVAPB is on the move. The whole team is moving under the Chief Administrative Officer from the Council Chief of Staff. This is going to better align RVAPB with the city budget process and create deeper partnerships with a host of city departments.

City Council will vote on legislation at Monday’s formal City Council meeting. If you are interested in showing your support for RVAPB you can sign up to speak during the consent agenda public comment using this handy guide from our friends in the Clerk’s office.

Information Station: Budget Justice by Celina Su

This month, the PB team has been reading Budget Justice, Celina Su’s powerful examination of how public budgets revealing a city’s priorities and values. Su illustrates that budgets show whose needs are centered and whose voices are missing. The book advocates for budgets that are legible, accessible, and contextual, meaning they should be written for broad audiences, shared expansively, and placed in context to other cities.                                                      

Guess what else is highlighted - Participatory Budgeting. Su isn't shy about critiquing how the process can be used to reinforce inequity and mask the development of trust between the public and local government. Yet, she sees PB as a vital way to bring community together to make collective decisions and educate the public about complex city processes.  

National Human Rights Day (December 10th):

Just in case you all missed it, this past Wednesday was National Human Rights Day. On that day in 1948 the UN adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights defining unalienable rights like life, liberty, security, and freedom of discrimination.

Here in the City of Richmond we have our very own Human Rights Commission who serve to safeguard the rights of all residents.

Thank you so much to all the members on this great commission! If you would like to learn more or are in need of any resources, please don’t hesitate to reach out at 804-646-0752 or visit their website below.

Happy Holiday’s from everyone here at the PB Team and see you all next year!