Participatory Budgeting is one of the fastest-growing municipal democratic reforms in the world. It began in Brazil in the late 1980s and has since spread to cities across the globe. But what is Participatory Budgeting, how does it work, and how is it different from other forms of governing? What can we learn from other cities as we begin to experiment with Participatory Budgeting in the Portland Metro-Region?
On this episode of Locus Focus we learn more about Participatory Budgeting from guests Jim Labbe, a Portland community organizer currently teamed up with Healthy Democracy and the Rosewood Initiative, and Brian Wampler, a professor of political science at Boise State University’s School of Public Service. They are both involved in organizing and hosting a one-day policy forum on April 14 entitled “Bringing Participatory Budgeting to the Portland Region.”
Brian Wampler is a professor of political science at Boise State University’s School of Public Service. His research and teaching focuses on Brazil and Latin America, having lived and conducted research in Brazil, Mexico, and Spain. His extensive research on democracy, participation, civil society, and institution building has been published in a variety of academic journals and funded by the National Science Foundation, the Fulbright program, Ash Center for Democracy at Harvard University, the World Bank, and Boise State University. Brian has published two books, Participatory Budgeting in Brazil: Cooperation, Contestation, and Accountability (Pennsylvania State University Press 2007) and Activating Democracy in Brazil: Popular Participation, Social Justice and Interlocking Institutions (University of Norte Dame press, 2015). He lives in Boise, Idaho with his family.
Jim Labbe is a life-long Oregon resident who has worked with and for a variety of conservation organizations including Audubon Society of Portland and Depave doing advocacy, research, and community organizing. He currently is teamed up with Healthy Democracy and the Rosewood Initiative to organize and host a one-day policy forum on April 14 entitled “Bringing Participatory Budgeting to the Portland Region.” He lives in North Portland with his family.
- KBOO