Youth Voice, Youth Vote PB (YV² PB)

Participatory Budgeting Oregon has co-launched Oregon’s first participatory budgeting process Youth Voice, Youth Vote PB (YV² PB).

• Activates people’s power over real money in a structured process that redistributes power and resources to benefit under-represented and under-resourced populations
• Foster and support youth civic leadership and public health
• Young people identify community-driven COVID-19 relief and recovery projects funded by $500,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds
• Carry out participatory budgeting for ARPA funds committed by State Legislators Kayse Jama, Chris Gorsek, and Ricki Ruiz
• Partner with organizations to engage at least 5,000 youth in Senate Districts 24 and 25 in East Multnomah and North Clackamas Counties
• Work toward a second cycle to follow this initial effort could allocate additional public funds within a similar project area in 2023 and 2024.

Through July 15, eligible youth will be voting to select five projects for funding. One project in each category will be awarded $100,000 to implement.

Youth Health Services

1. Get Your Body and Mind Right: After school physical and mental health activities for youth. 
2. You Matter: Youth Mental Health Services Program: School-based and virtual programs for mental health. 
3. Beyond SNAP: More Menstrual and Hygiene Products: Expanding youth access to menstrual and hygiene products that are not typically covered by SNAP benefits.

Youth Public Art

1. Youth Artist Capital: Paid two-week program for youth artists to develop their art and entrepreneurial skills.
2. Youth Art Collective: Monthly community club for youth artists.
3. Creative Language Camp: Cultural arts day camp at Oxbow Regional Park.

Housing and Homeless Services

1. Sheltering Youth: Connecting low income youth to low income housing & rental assistance.
2. Free Critical Resources Market for Unhoused Youth: A free market providing critical supplies to unhoused youth.
3. Eat Your Veggies! Healthy Food for Low Income Youth: Access to healthy food for low-income youth.

Economic Justice

1. Young Professionals - Paid Training to Start Your Career: Paid internships for youth to learn professional skills and explore job opportunities.
2. Economic Empowerment Classes: Economic empowerment and well-being classes for youth and their families.
3. Setting up Young Parents for Workforce Success: A wrap-around support, workforce development program for young parents.

Youth Recreation and Cultural Programs

1. Get the Summer Job of Your Dreams!: A job resource fair to help youth learn directly from employers about how to get ready for your dream summer job. 
2. Entrepreneurs & Artists Fair: An event and concert where youth can earn money while learning from artists and small businesses. 

The goal of YV² PB (pronounced Y V Squared P B) is to foster and support youth civic leadership and public health in the process of identifying community-driven COVID-19 relief and recovery projects funded by $500,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. These ARPA funds were committed by State Legislators Kayse Jama, Chris Gorsek, and Ricki Ruiz. Cycle 1 of this youth-led participatory budgeting process is occurring within Senate Districts 24 and 25 and House District 50 in East Multnomah and North Clackamas Counties.

Participatory budgeting (PB) activates people’s power over real money in a structured process that redistributes power and resources to benefit under-represented and under-resourced populations. PB is one mechanism for community-led recovery amid the COVID-19 pandemic being used in other communities across the country to democratically allocate ARPA funds.

Jama, Gorsek, Ruiz, the Seeding Justice Foundation, and five non-profit organizations are collaborating to make YV² PB possible. East County Rising Community Projects, Participatory Budgeting Oregon, Play Grow Learn, The Rosewood Initiative, and Unite Oregon are core implementing organizations.

A second cycle to follow this initial effort could allocate additional public funds within a similar project area in 2024. Over the course of two participatory budgeting cycles, Participatory Budgeting Oregon and partnering organizations aim to engage at least 5,000 youth in exercising their power to benefit their communities. This process aims to expand civic leadership and organizing skills while enhancing and rebuilding community, relationships, and mental health outcomes.