Idea Generation for The People's Money has been extended to November 26!
The online submission deadline for Idea Generation for the fourth cycle of The People's Money — NYC's citywide participatory budgeting process — has been extended to November 26!
Through The People's Money, the ideas New Yorkers submit now could end up as real projects implemented by community-based organizations and funded by the New York City budget. Once Idea Generation is over, the Civic Engagement Commission (CEC) will review the submitted ideas for eligibility requirements, then will pass them onto Borough Assemblies, where randomly selected New Yorkers from each borough will meet over multiple weeks to decide which ideas end up on the ballot.
If you have an idea for a project that would improve your community, you can submit it online at on.nyc.gov/pb through November 26!
A successful election season for the Voter Language Assistance Program!
Our Voter Language Assistance Program helps make sure voters with limited English proficiency know and are able to exercise their right to vote in their language. This election season, the program not only spread awareness about that right, but also provided interpretation services in a total of 12 languages across 88 poll sites on Election Day and 42 poll sites during early voting!
This would not have been possible without our incredible volunteer interpreters who made sure New Yorkers got the help they needed at the voting booth — especially because this general election had one of the highest voter turnouts in New York City history!
As we celebrate this historic act of civic engagement and those who made it possible for all New Yorkers to participate no matter what language they spoke, we remember that democracy isn't just something we do on Election Day — we build it, practice it, and protect it every day in moments both big and small.
Recapping the projects from The People's Money's second cycleIn the second cycle of The People's Money, New Yorkers' winning ideas have taken shape as real, community-led projects across the city. The cycle's final phase, Project Implementation, marks the stage where community-based organizations bring these ideas to life, developing and executing initiatives that strengthen civic engagement, address local challenges, and improve the quality of life for all New Yorkers.
Cycle 2's projects had a total funding amount of $3.5 million, with $868,000 going towards projects focused on health and wellbeing, $750,000 to projects focused on education, $718,000 towards career development projects, $690,000 for projects that improve accessibility, $300,000 addressing public safety, and $174,000 for arts and culture.
Following an intensive planning period from October to December of 2024, these projects were rolled out between January to October of 2025, and the impact has been remarkable! In total, our Implementing Partners conducted 681 workshops reaching 7,070 participants and 109 community events with 3,540 attendees, with over 15,000 New Yorkers total being directly served.
Each project reflects the power of community voice and collaboration — from Idea Generation to the ballot box to real change on the ground. Together, New Yorkers continue to show what's possible when everyone has a say.
CEC's Sonia Putzel at DecidimFest in Barcelona!
This month, our Technology Strategist, Sonia Putzel, represented New York City at DecidimFest in Barcelona — a global gathering of civic tech innovators and open-source advocates.
Sonia joined a round table to share how we use Decidim, a free and open-source platform for civic engagement built by a global community of developers, to power The People's Money — NYC's citywide participatory budgeting process. Explore our version of Decidim at participate.nyc.gov.
After the conference, the CEC joined forces with the Barcelona City Council, Catalonia, the Council of Barcelona, and the Federal Government of Brazil to launch the Decidim Public Institutions Committee — a new partnership strengthening our shared commitment to open, collaborative digital spaces for civic engagement.
Health & Wealth: A great community resource fair at Moore Street Market!
On Friday, November 7, we co-hosted a community resource fair at Moore Street Market in Brooklyn with partners including the New York City Economic Development Corporation, Graham Avenue BID, Pace University Small Business Services, and the Interborough Developmental & Consultation Center.
There were almost 15 local vendors, and even more tables with resources from city agencies like the Commission on Human Rights, the Fire Department of New York, the Brooklyn Borough President's Office, and the Public Engagement Unit. This fair uplifted local vendors while providing various resources to the community including mental health services, financial empowerment, small business development, and more!
Civic Leader Spotlight: Sutton King and the Urban Indigenous Collective
In honor of November being Native American Heritage Month, we are highlighting Sutton King, MPH (Nāēqtaw-Pianakiw, "Comes First Woman"), a public health advocate and the Co-Founder, President, and Executive Director of the Urban Indigenous Collective (UIC). Based in Lenapehoking (New York City) and serving the greater tri-state area, UIC is dedicated to advancing health equity and restoring balance for Indigenous peoples through community-driven research, culturally grounded services, and advocacy.
A proud Afro-Indigenous woman of the Menominee and Oneida Nations of Wisconsin, Sutton leads with a decolonial and community-rooted approach — reclaiming space for urban Indigenous peoples and creating pathways for healing that honor Indigenous knowledge systems, kinship, and culture.
With a Master of Public Health from NYU's School of Global Public Health and over a decade of experience across health, philanthropy, and technology, Sutton has become a nationally recognized leader in Indigenous rights and health equity. Through her work with UIC, she continues to advance Indigenous sovereignty, self-determination, and wellness — "by us, for us, with us."
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