This project explores Albuquerque’s Participatory Budgeting (PB) process in District 6, working with residents to identify challenges, document priorities, and strengthen community-government collaboration. Using surveys, interviews, and storytelling, the study will inform policy recommendations and a community report to improve PB’s accessibility and effectiveness.
Objectives:
- Identify key challenges that residents of Albuquerque District 6 face in participating in the Participatory Budgeting (PB) process.
- Document community-defined priorities and proposed improvements.
- Develop actionable recommendations for increasing accessibility, transparency, and effectiveness of PB in Albuquerque.
- Leverage existing community networks (including PBABQ and neighborhood associations) to reach residents.
- Use volunteers and university partnerships to assist with survey distribution and data analysis.
Charter Summary:
Participatory Budgeting (PB) allows communities to directly allocate public funds, fostering transparency and equity. In Albuquerque, PB launched in District 6, which includes some of the city’s most historically marginalized areas, through a pilot designed by UNM Sustainability Studies and City & Regional Planning students in collaboration with PBABQ, residents, and city officials.
This study applies Participatory Action Research (PAR) to evaluate PB’s impact on governance and comunity participation. Partnering with PBABQ, UNM researchers, and researchers from the University of São Paulo, we use surveys, interviews, arts-based storytelling, and workshops to assess barriers and improvements. Findings will shape a community report, policy recommendations, scholarly articles, and interactive public presentations, informing PB expansion across Albuquerque and statewide governance. By centering community-led research, this project fosters civic engagement by empowering community members to have a voice in the City’s budget.
Students
- Esther Hewitt (UNM)
Community Partners
- Participatory Budgeting ABQ (PBABQ)
- Jennifer Tucker, University of New Mexico, Community + Regional Planning
- Latin American and Iberian Institute, University of New Mexico
- Marcelo Nerling, University of São Paulo
- Paulo Almeida, University of São Paulo
- Jeffrey Hertz, City of Albuquerque
- Nichole Rogers – City Councillor, City of Albuquerque District 6