The City of Cambridge’s Participatory Budgeting (PB) is a democratic process through which community members decide how to spend part of the public budget. Through this annual process, community ideas are developed by volunteer Budget Delegates into project proposals that are then voted on by Cambridge residents age 12+. The projects that get the most votes receive funding! Dozens of capital projects, most recently including STEAM upgrades for youth centers, home essentials for newly housed residents, traffic signals for cyclists, EV chargers, and public bathrooms, have been realized through this process. 

Volunteer activities have included:

• Evaluating, researching, and developing project proposals (Budget Delegates)

• Setting up/operating polling stations

• Outreach events and community engagement opportunities