A new Systems for Action pilot study evaluates how Participatory Budgeting (PB) can strengthen civic engagement, improve health outcomes, and advance equity in New York City.

This research — led by the NYC Civic Engagement Commission (CEC), in partnership with The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai’s Institute for Health Equity Research — focuses on The People’s Money (TPM). TPM is the city’s first-ever citywide participatory budgeting initiative, which empowers residents to decide how the city’s budget is invested to address community‑identified needs. It aims to dismantle systemic racism that has historically limited marginalized communities’ influence over public resource allocation.

The PB Intervention includes:

💡 Idea Generation Workshops

Residents learn about the city budget cycle, identify community needs, brainstorm ideas, and submit proposals through an online platform.

🗳️ Ballot Development

Randomly selected, demographically representative volunteers serve on borough assembly committees to determine which ideas move onto the ballot.

🏙️ Citywide Voting

All residents ages 11 and older, regardless of immigration status, can vote on project proposals.

🛠️ Project Implementation

Community-based organizations collaborate with the City to develop, implement, and evaluate the winning projects.

This study examines the feasibility, acceptability, and potential impact of PB as a tool to increase community voice, improve health and social outcomes as well advance equity for marginalized groups.

Learn more on Wednesday, February 4th at 10am. Can’t make it? Sign up to receive the recording!

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This webinar is hosted by Systems for Action (S4A). S4A is a signature research program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) that is housed in the Department of Health Systems, Management and Policy. S4A research builds a Culture of Health by rigorously testing new ways of connecting the nation’s fragmented medical, social, and public health systems.