Watson Events

Alderman Joe Moore -- Participatory Budgeting

Come hear Alderman Joe Moore from Chicago’s 49th Ward talk about implementing Participatory Budgeting in his community.Participatory Budgeting is an innovative international model, first developed in Brazil, for maximizing citizen involvement in the local budget process. Participatory Budgeting offers ordinary citizens real decision-making power in how their local tax dollars get spent. To date, Participatory Budgeting has been implemented in more than 1,000 municipalities worldwide and has recently arrived in Chicago’s 49th Ward.  Alderman Moore is a leader in bringing Participatory Budgeting to the US. He was named the "Most Valuable Local Official" in thecountry by The Nation. Through several months of discussions over the past year, more than 1,600 residents of the 49th Ward came together to directly decide how to spend Moore 's $1.3 million discretionary budget. For more information: civic.imagination@gmail.com

Location:  Joukowsky Forum, Watson Institute, 111 Thayer Street