The People's Money's Fourth Cycle has Begun — Submit Your Idea Now!
We are thrilled to announce the launch of a new cycle of The People's Money — NYC's citywide participatory budgeting process — which kicked off on October 15! All New Yorkers age 11 and up, regardless of immigration or incarceration status, are invited to decide how to spend part of the city budget in their borough.
From now through November 19, residents can share their ideas for projects to support and strengthen their communities either online or at an Idea Generation Workshop — a space where New Yorkers can come together to brainstorm creative, impactful projects.
Those ideas will then be developed into ballot proposals, which will be voted on citywide this spring. The winning projects in each borough will be implemented by community-based organizations beginning in July of 2026 — turning your ideas into real improvements for neighborhoods across the city.
Find an Idea Generation Workshop to attend in your borough or submit your idea online at participate.nyc.gov!
What to Know About the November General Election
The 2025 General Election is only a few weeks away (Tuesday, November 4), so here's what you need to know to make sure you're staying civically engaged this election season:
What is this election for?
In addition to ballot proposals, there are five citywide offices on the ballot, which you can learn more about here:
- Mayor
- City Council
- Comptroller
- Borough Presidents
- Public Advocate
Depending on where you live, more offices may appear on your ballot. See all the races taking place this November here. You can also learn more about the candidates during their debates!
When is the election?
Election Day is Tuesday, November 4. You can also vote early from Saturday, October 25 to Sunday, November 2. Find your poll site here and poll hours here.
If you won't be able to vote in-person, you must request a mail ballot before October 25. Find out how to request an Early Mail Ballot or an Absentee Ballot here.
How do I register to vote?
If you're not already registered to vote, you must do so no later than October 25 in order to be able to vote in the General Election. If your address has changed recently, make sure the address on your voter registration is up to date before October 20.
You can register to vote online or in person at your local board of elections, at any New York State Agency-Based voter registration center, or at the Department of Motor Vehicles.
Learn more about the voter registration process and qualifications here.
Can I vote if I don't speak English?
Yes! You have the right to bring a friend or family member to interpret for you at the polls. CEC interpreters will also assist voters in select poll sites and languages, including Arabic, Bengali, Chinese (Cantonese and Mandarin), French, Haitian Creole, Italian, Korean, Polish, Russian, Urdu, and Yiddish.
Learn more at on.nyc.gov/vla.
The CEC's Inaugural Community Engagement Ambassador AcademyThe Civic Engagement Commission is thrilled to announce the launch of our first-ever Community Engagement Ambassador Academy! This groundbreaking virtual course is an opportunity to gain the tools, strategies, and confidence you need to become an empowered community advocate.
Through this program, participants will learn:
- Proven strategies for impactful civic engagement
- Key leadership skills to inspire and mobilize others
- Actionable methods to create meaningful change in your neighborhood
Be sure to follow us on social media for more information on how to register for our cohort in Spring 2026!
Announcing Our 2025 TRIE Partners and Implementation Partners!
This fall, we are proud to announce our newly selected TRIE Neighborhood Administrators (TNAs) for the 2025-2026 program year and Project Implementation Partners for The People's Money's third cycle (2025-2027)!
These incredible community-based organizations will lead local coalitions, strengthen civic engagement, and bring participatory budgeting projects to life across New York City's TRIE (Taskforce on Racial Inclusion and Equity) neighborhoods.
As TRIE Neighborhood Administrators, partners will convene local stakeholders, co-host The People's Money events, develop civic engagement workshops, and build lasting infrastructure for participation in communities that have been historically and systematically underrepresented and underresourced.
Our new Project Implementation Partners will help turn New Yorker-selected People's Money projects into reality — delivering programs and services that reflect community priorities and deepen trust in local democracy
Together, these partners represent the creativity, care, and commitment that power civic life in New York City. We are excited to work alongside them to expand access, equity, and community-driven decision-making in every borough.
See the lists of our new TRIE Partners and Implementation Partners!
CEC's Oscar Romero at the United Nations General Assembly's Science Summit
Last month, our Chief Information Officer Oscar Romero spoke at the United Nations General Assembly's Science Summit. As part of the "Living Labs for Human Rights: Innovating for Sustainable and Inclusive Development" session, Oscar discussed the CEC's work to center New Yorkers in designing solutions for the city's systemic inequalities — because, as he said, "communities know better."
We also had the pleasure of welcoming representatives from the i2CAT Foundation and the Fonds de Développement du Service Universel des Télécommunications (FDSUT) of Senegal to the CEC office following the panel! We had the chance to continue these important conversations, sharing insights about community-centered technology, learning from each other's diverse experiences across countries, and exploring ways to create solutions that are both inclusive and sustainable.
Thank you to the Government of Catalonia, the i2CAT Foundation, and the FDSUT of Senegal for inviting us to be part of the Summit and for visiting and sharing your perspectives with us! We look forward to continuing these global conversations and partnerships as we learn from each other.
The People's Money Partner Spotlight: Mothers Matter
October is Domestic Violence Awareness month, so for this month's People's Money partner spotlight, we're highlighting Mothers Matter, a transformative program being implemented by the Multi-Assistance Resource Center (MARC)that provides mentorship, practical skills workshops, and therapeutic support to young mothers navigating complex systems — including immigration, family court, substance abuse recovery, transitional housing, and social services
MARC takes a holistic approach, addressing mental health alongside practical skills and emotional resilience. In addition to workshop programming, Certified Peer Specialist Support is available to offer ongoing emotional guidance, ensuring mothers have someone who truly understands their experiences. Poetry therapy further provides participants with a safe, creative space to process their thoughts and emotions, promoting personal reflection and deepening community connections.
These comprehensive services aim to increase economic stability, enhance mental well-being, and build stronger community bonds — leading to improved parenting outcomes and a healthier, more resilient family environment that fosters growth and opportunity for future generations.
One participant shared: "The tools I learned have helped me stay calm during stressful moments, and I now feel more hopeful about my future. The group discussions made me realize I'm not alone, and I can rebuild my life one step at a time."
Learn more about MARC and their work in Episode 1 of our "What's in Your Borough?" YouTube series @nyccec!
Advancing Health Equity Through Participatory Budgeting
We are thrilled to announce that we, in partnership with the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai's Institute for Health Equity Research (IHER), have received a $200,000 grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Systems for Action program. This new project — "Participatory Budgeting for Health Equity: A Unified Multisectoral Approach" — will explore how civic engagement can strengthen health outcomes and advance equity across New York City
Working with local partners in public health, academia, and social services, the project will study how participatory budgeting (PB) — the democratic process where community members decide how to spend part of a public budget — can foster collaboration between healthcare, public health, and social service systems. Researchers will follow the CEC's PB process, The People's Money, throughout its cycle, surveying and interviewing participants and non-participants alike to better understand how civic engagement impacts community health and wellbeing.
Findings from this study will inform future research and policy recommendations, helping other cities and institutions understand how participatory democracy can serve as a powerful tool for health equity.
For more information on the Systems for Action program, visit systemsforaction.org.
Making Participatory Budgeting Playful!
In late September, the CEC joined practitioners from across the country at Our Time Our Power: A Participatory Democracy Learning Exchange, hosted by the Participatory Budgeting Project. Our team led a workshop called "Making PB Playful!", exploring how joy, creativity, and imagination can transform civic engagement.
During the session, we shared how The People's Bus, our giant Sunny puppets, and Mama Sunny, our inflatable voting booth, bring color and joy to participatory budgeting (PB) across the city. Participants experienced some of our interactive PB games firsthand — from trivia cards to sticker-based budgeting — and then collaborated to dream up their own playful approaches to public participation.
This event was more than a strategy session — the gathering centered on reimagining democracy as a practice that reflects the many, not just the few. By weaving art, culture, and play into civic life, we invite New Yorkers to see themselves in the democratic process — to connect, to participate, and to belong.
Civic Leader Spotlight: The Brennan Center for Justice's Chisun Lee
For this month's Civic Leader Spotlight, we're highlighting Chisun Lee, the Chief Innovation Officer of the Brennan Center for Justice, whose career has been dedicated to strengthening democracy and expanding political opportunity for all.
At the Brennan Center, Lee has led transformative reform efforts and advocacy campaigns to make our political system more equitable and accessible. In her leadership roles — including Deputy Executive Director and Director of the Elections and Government Program — she has guided groundbreaking research, legislative strategies, and public education efforts shaping national conversations on democracy and governance.
A respected voice in the field, Lee has authored nationally recognized reports and legal scholarship, contributed to major publications, and shared her expertise through testimony before lawmakers at every level. Her commentary has appeared in outlets such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, and NPR, and she has also taught as an adjunct professor at the NYU School of Law.
Before joining the Brennan Center, Lee represented indigent defendants in federal court and worked as an award-winning journalist covering law and government for ProPublica and The Village Voice. Also a former press secretary for a New York City elected official, she brings a unique blend of public service, legal expertise, and communications insight to her work advancing democracy. Her career is a testament to the power of civic leadership, innovation, and advocacy in reimagining how democracy can serve everyone.
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