Dear Neighbor,
Join me tonight for a lively discussion of the 49th Ward’s groundbreaking Participatory Budgeting Initiative. The discussion is sponsored by public radio station WBEZ and the Public Square, a program of the Illinois Humanities Council, and takes place TONIGHT (Thursday, June 23rd), 6:00 p.m., at WBEZ’s North Side Bureau, 2913 W. Devon. (I apologize for the short notice, but the date snuck up on me.)
As you know, I’ve given the residents of my ward the power to decide how to distribute over $1 million in taxpayer dollars. I’ll talk about the benefits of participatory budgeting and some of its potential downfalls. We’ll discuss the evaluation systems that must exist in order to satisfy the priorities of the community and the steps we’re undertaking to encourage voting by all residents of the ward. Joining me tonight will beElizabeth Vitell, Executive Director of the Rogers Park Community Council, who was one of the early community leaders in our Participatory Budgeting process.
Tonight’s discussion is the part of Public Square’s Roving Cafe Society, a project designed to foster a more robust civil society, more cohesive and interactive communities, greater media literacy, and a more informed and engaged citizenry through weekly coffee shop conversations about contemporary social issues.
I hope you’ll be able to stop by tonight.
Sincerely,
Joe Moore
P.S. Unfortunately, I can’t be in two places at the same time. As I’m at WBEZ’ North Side Bureau leading leading a discussion on participatory budgeting, the Rogers Park Business Alliance will be presenting an award at its Annual Meeting to the 49th Ward Participatory Budgeting Leadership Committee for its outstanding work on participatory budgeting. Committee Chair Sarah Lisy will accept the award on behalf of the Committee. The event takes place tonight (Thursday, June 23rd), 6:00 p.m., at Loyola University’s Coffey Hall, 1000 W. Sheridan (at the curve). Congratulations to the hard working Leadership Committee members!
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