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Media Advisories
Media Advisories
New York City Civic Engagement Commission to Host Public Meeting on Programs and Initiatives
New York – The New York City Civic Engagement Commission (CEC) will host a public meeting to discuss its programs and initiatives with its commissioners and take public comment. This event will take place in-person on Thursday, April 30 at 11 a.m.
The meeting will include consideration of a resolution on our Voter Language Assistance program and updates on our other current programs, including The People's Money participatory budgeting process, project implementation (which will feature guest presenters from the Service Design Studio at the Mayor's Office of Economic Opportunity), and community boards. The Commissioners will also share their outreach efforts for The People's Money Vote phase and the upcoming primary election, followed by an opportunity for public comment.
You must contact the Commission if you need reasonable accommodation for a disability or language assistance. To request a sign language interpreter or to request free interpretation for Spanish and other languages, please contact the Commission no later than 5:00 p.m. on Monday, April 27, 2026, by calling or texting 917-587-9103 or by e-mailing info@civicengagement.nyc.gov. Closed captioning is available. / Para solicitar interpretación gratuita en español y otros idiomas, comuníquese con la Comisión a más tardar a las 5 p. m. del lunes 16 de febrero de 2026, llamando o enviando un mensaje de texto al 917-587-9103 o escribiendo a info@civicengagement.nyc.gov.
You may also join the meeting via livestream on our Youtube channel @nyccec
What:
Public Meeting: NYC Civic Engagement Commission
A public meeting with CEC staff and commissioners to discuss current programs and take public comment.
When:
Thursday, April 30, 2026 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Who:
Dr. Sarah Sayeed, Chair and Executive Director, CEC
Anila Cobo, Director of Poll Site Language Assistance, CEC
Alexis Spencer, PB Projects Manager, CEC
Hillary Carelli-Donnell, Director of The People's Money, CEC
Benjamin Solotaire, Senior Advisor, CEC
Lyndsey Marie Richardson, Studio Director, Service Design Studio | Mayor's Office for Economic Opportunity
Deana Yu, Assistant Director of Visual Design & Design Lead, Service Design Studio | Mayor's Office for Economic Opportunity
Where:
Spector Hall
22 Reade Street
New York, NY 10007
NYC Civic Engagement Commission to Celebrate The People's Money Citywide Participatory Budgeting Process and Over 100 Community Partners
For Immediate Release: May 10, 2024
Contact: Anila Cobo, Interim Director of Communications, NYC Civic Engagement Commission, acobo@civicengagement.nyc.gov
New York, NY – The NYC Civic Engagement Commission (CEC) would like to invite you to an event celebrating the second year of the People's Money citywide participatory budgeting process and over 100 community partners who have worked alongside the CEC to make this a truly participatory democratic process that engages all New Yorkers 11 and older, regardless of immigration or incarceration status. The voting phase of the current People's Money process is currently underway, giving New Yorkers the opportunity to decide what expense projects get funded with $3.5M of city funds.
The event will feature keynote remarks by the Mayor's Chief of Staff Camille Joseph Varlack, an exhibit of the 46 projects funded in the first year of the People's Money, and the official unveiling of the Sunnies, an art project developed by CEC's Artist in Residence Yazmany Arboleda to inspire and energize New Yorkers to get involved in participatory democracy.
What: The People's Money Participatory Budgeting Process Celebratory Event
When: Saturday May 11th, 2:30 PM – 5:00 PM
Where: The Fishman Space, BAM Fisher, 321 Ashland Place, Brooklyn, NY, 11217
Who: Camille Joseph Varlack, NYC Mayor's Chief of Staff - Keynote Speaker
Dr. Sarah Sayeed, Chair and Executive Director, NYC Civic Engagement Commission – Host
NYC Civic Engagement Commission, Borough President Donovan Richards, Queens Community House Host Queens Boroughwide Participatory Budgeting Event
For Immediate Release: November 9, 2022
Contact: Stathi Patseas, Director of Communications, NYC CEC, spatseas@civicengagement.nyc.gov
New York, NY – The NYC Civic Engagement Commission (CEC) and partners citywide are hosting The People's Money: Boroughwide Idea Generation Sessions. Five events, one in each borough, will invite New Yorkers to represent their neighborhood in NYC's first-ever $5m citywide participatory budgeting process by submitting ideas to address community needs.
Members of the press are encouraged to attend beginning at 6pm
What:
The People's Money: Queens Boroughwide Idea Generation Session
When:
Thursday, November 10, 2022 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm
Members of the press are encouraged to attend at 6pm
Where:
Queens Borough Hall (Helen Marshall Center), 120-55 Queens Blvd, Queens NY 11424
Who:
NYC Civic Engagement Commission, Borough President Donovan Richards & Queens Community House
NYC Civic Engagement Commission, NAACP NY State Conference Host Brooklyn Boroughwide Participatory Budgeting & Get Out the Vote Event at Brooklyn Museum
For Immediate Release: November 4, 2022
Contact: Stathi Patseas, Director of Communications, NYC CEC, spatseas@civicengagement.nyc.gov
New York, NY – The NYC Civic Engagement Commission (CEC) and partners citywide are hosting The People's Money: Boroughwide Idea Generation Sessions, beginning with Manhattan on 10/28. Five events, one in each borough, will invite New Yorkers to represent their neighborhood in NYC's first-ever $5m citywide participatory budgeting process by submitting ideas to address community needs.
Find details on remaining events on Staten Island and in Queens.
After the idea generation session portion of the event, The People's Bus will be hosting cultural, art, and civic engagement activations, while sharing November Election Get Out the Vote resources supported by local food and live music.
Members of the press are encouraged to attend beginning at 1:30pm.
What:
The People's Money: Brooklyn Boroughwide Idea Generation Session
When:
Sunday, November 6, 2022 from 1:30pm to 5:30pm;
Members of the press are encouraged to attend at 1:30pm
Where:
Brooklyn Museum - 3rd Floor, 200 Eastern Pkwy, Brooklyn, NY 11238
Who:
NYC Civic Engagement Commission, NAACP New York State Conference, Brooklyn Museum, & the Office of the Brooklyn Borough President;
City agencies sharing resources alongside the CEC will include: The Mayor's Public Engagement Unit; NYC Service
NYC Civic Engagement Commission, Lehman College, BronxWorks Host The Bronx Boroughwide Participatory Budgeting & Get Out the Vote Event
For Immediate Release: November 3, 2022
Contact: Stathi Patseas, Director of Communications, NYC CEC, spatseas@civicengagement.nyc.gov
New York, NY – The NYC Civic Engagement Commission (CEC) and partners citywide are hosting The People's Money: Boroughwide Idea Generation Sessions. Five events, one in each borough, invite New Yorkers to represent their neighborhood in NYC's first-ever $5m citywide participatory budgeting process by submitting ideas to address community needs. Today's event in The Bronx is in partnership with Lehman College and BronxWorks.
Find details on remaining events in Staten Island, Brooklyn, and Queens.
Members of the press are encouraged to attend beginning at 5:30pm.
What:
The People's Money: Bronx Boroughwide Idea Generation Session
When:
Thursday, November 3rd, 2022 from 5:00pm to 8:00pm
Members of the press are encouraged to attend at 5:30pm
Where:
BronxWorks, 1130 Grand Concourse, The Bronx, NY 10456
Who:
NYC Civic Engagement Commission, Lehman College, BronxWorks
City agencies sharing resources alongside the CEC will include the Mayor's Public Engagement Unit
NYC Civic Engagement Commission, Lincoln Center, The Library for the Performing Arts & NYC League of Women Voters Host Manhattan Boroughwide Participatory Budgeting & Get Out the Vote Event
For Immediate Release: October 27, 2022
Contact: Stathi Patseas, Director of Communications, NYC CEC, spatseas@civicengagement.nyc.gov
New York, NY – The NYC Civic Engagement Commission (CEC) and partners citywide are hosting The People's Money: Boroughwide Idea Generation Sessions, beginning with Manhattan on 10/28. Five events, one in each borough, will invite New Yorkers to represent their neighborhood in NYC's first-ever $5m citywide participatory budgeting process by submitting ideas to address community needs.
Find details on remaining events in the Bronx, Staten Island, Brooklyn, and Queens
Outside of the idea generation session portion of the event, The People's Bus will be hosting cultural, art, and civic engagement activations, while sharing November Election Get Out the Vote resources supported by local food and live music.
Members of the press are encouraged to attend beginning at 3:00pm.
What:
The People's Money: Manhattan Boroughwide Idea Generation Session
When:
Friday, October 28, 2022 from 3:00pm to 7:00pm
Members of the press are encouraged to attend at 3:00pm
Where:
The Library for the Performing Arts, 40 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023
Who:
NYC Civic Engagement Commission, Lincoln Center, The Library for the Performing Arts, League of Women Voters NYC.
City agencies sharing resources alongside the CEC will include: Public Engagement Unit; NYC Service; CCHR.
Media Advisory: NYC Civic Engagement Commission, HeadCount, Tony's Chocolonely Co-Host Voter Registration Party for National Voter Registration Day
For Immediate Release: Monday, September 19, 2022
Contact: Stathi Patseas, Director of Communications, NYC CEC, spatseas@civicengagement.nyc.gov
New York – The NYC Civic Engagement Commission (CEC) has partnered with HeadCount, the nonpartisan, nonprofit voter registration organization, and Tony's Chocolonely in honor of National Voter Registration Day. Voter registration and civic participation activations with The People's Bus will begin in Union Square Park tomorrow (9/20) at 11:00am. Members of the press are encouraged to attend between 12:00pm and 2:00pm.
What:
Voter Registration Party: National Voter Registration Day
When:
Tuesday, September 20th, 2022 at 11am
Members of the press are encouraged to attend between 12:00pm and 2:00pm
Where:
Union Square Park, North Plaza, Manhattan
Who:
Event hosts include: NYC Civic Engagement Commission and The People's Bus, HeadCount, Tony's Chocolonely, Guayaki Yerba Mate
City agencies sharing resources alongside the CEC will include: the Public Engagement Unit; NYC Service
Media Advisory: NYC Civic Engagement Commission Host Kick-Off Event to Launch "The People's Money," NYC's First Citywide Participatory Budgeting Process
For Immediate Release: Tuesday, September 13, 2022
Contact: Stathi Patseas, NYC CEC, spatseas@civicengagement.nyc.gov
New York – City leaders join together to kick-off the launch of the "The People's Money" — New York City's first-ever citywide participatory budgeting process. All New Yorkers ages 11 and up will be able to decide how to spend $5 million of mayoral expense funding to address local community needs.
Beginning with this event at 11am on September 14th at Roberto Clemente Plaza the CEC, and a diverse group of 86 partner organizations will be kicking off idea generation sessions. Residents can submit ideas and find further idea generation sessions via the CEC's online platform: participate.nyc.gov
What:
The People's Money: Citywide Participatory Budgeting Kick-Off
When:
Wednesday, September 14th, 2022: Remarks to begin at 11am
Where:
Roberto Clemente Plaza
530 Willis Ave. Bronx, NY
Who:
Speakers from local government will include: Dr. Sarah Sayeed (CEC Chair), Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, Assemblymember Amanda Septimo.
Speakers from partner organizations will include: El Puente, Queens Community House, League of Women Voters, Canvas Institute, BronxWorks, League of Asian American Voters of New York.
City agencies sharing resources alongside the CEC will include: the Public Engagement Unit, the Racial Justice Commission, and NYC Service.
Media Advisory: The People's Bus, NYC Civic Engagement Commission, World Health Organization, NYU Steinhardt, Culturrunners, Neuroarts Blueprint, Mujeres En Movimiento, and Kaleidospace Host Final Activation at El Museo Del Barrio to Culminate Healing Arts New York Symposium
This event is part of the culmination of Healing Arts New York, a series of city activations produced by CultuRunners in 2021 to convene global arts and health researchers, practitioners, and policymakers.
Read the Healing Arts New York media advisory
Media Advisory: NYC Mayor's Office DemocracyNYC, Hispanic Federation, Pregones PRTT, and the NYC Civic Engagement Commission Host "Get Out the Vote in the Boogie Down Bronx"
This non-partisan voter engagement event at Roberto Clemente Plaza will begin with a press conference featuring electeds, artists, and community partners. Followed by performances by a Hondureño born DJ, a poet, a folk band, and a global music collective. The event will feature The People's Bus and vaccine bus.
Read the "Get Out the Vote in the Boogie Down Bronx" media advisory