In most cities, the city budget is usually decided by the mayor but with Participatory Budgeting, ordinary people decide how to spend the budget. This practice originated in Porto Alegre, Brazil in 1989 and has spread to cities and countries all over the world, including Chicago, New York City, Boston, Zimbabwe, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Puerto Rico and many others.

Please join us as Will Petrik discusses how Participatory Budgeting can empower marginalized communities in central Ohio. Will graduated with a self-designed BA in Social Justice from the College of St. Scholastica in Minnesota. He spent two separate semesters in Washington, DC, studying neighborhood development, participatory democracy, and international development. He also served as a Research Associate for the Council on Hemispheric Affairs, writing in-depth analyses on Latin American trade, energy, and development issues.

This meeting is free and open to the public.

Hosted by Economic Empowerment & Resistance Task Force.

Contact: Michael Vinson, 614-843-8721