People's Budget Chicago 2021: Austin (youth, in person)
TBD
This is an in-person assignment to document a People’s Budget Chicago event for youth, hosted by Chicago United for Equity (CUE) and BUILD.
This is our second year partnering with CUE on the People’s Budget! Documenters content will be used to inform upcoming information and resources from Chicago United for Equity on the 2021 budget process.
If you have not received the COVID-19 vaccine, we suggest you apply to a remote assignment instead of this one.
If assigned, we will loop you in with the planning team via email.
Background Every year the City of Chicago undergoes the process of defining a budget for the city—this budget impacts every department of city government and many of the issues that affect Chicagoans every day.
In advance of Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s budget recommendations to City Council, and the final budget approval by the end of this year, our friends at Chicago United for Equity (CUE) are coordinating The People’s Budget, an inclusive, community-led process to define investment priorities, creating an accountability framework and, ultimately, designing a budget that centers the voices of our most impacted communities.
CUE is hosting interactive discussions on the city budget in partnership with community groups located in areas with the greatest historical disinvestment, including Austin, Bronzeville, Brighton Park, Little Village and North Lawndale.
Reporting
Edited and summarized by the Chicago - IL Documenters Team
“Every year the City of Chicago undertakes the process of defining a budget for our City. The People’s Budget is an inclusive, community-led process to define budget values and priorities for the City....
…that center the needs and priorities of our most impacted communities, create an accountability framework, and ultimately design a budget that works for all of us.”
This meeting is being run by @buildchicago. Students will begin with creating art then move into budget discussions.
BUILD (Broader Urban Involvement & Leadership Development) is one of Chicago’s leading gang intervention, violence prevention, and youth development organizations. BUILD inspires hope and offers opportunities so youth facing systemic obstacles can achieve positive futures.
First activity will ask youth how they would use the budget to improve their communities. https://t.co/Li5ViW5xLx
Led by three facilitators from #peoplesbudgetchicago
ask participants to list what they think their community needs to thrive. Also students list where they’re from. Neighborhoods include North Lawndale, Austin, and Garfield Park.
Students list:
trash removal, violence prevention programs, community centers for kids, more resources available and safe spaces with public art, gardens and parks, more summer programs for the youth.
“Less harassment and less nonchalant police”
“Accessible community programs”
Next activity gives seven game chips to each participant and ask them to place chips in areas in the following categories:
Health, education, housing infrastructure, community resources, and police.
Student says “I chose Health because somebody’s health is the most important thing”
One student says “housing is unfair because it’s based on credit scores and you have to make 3X the rent amount in order to qualify which is out of reach for most people.”
When spending remaining chips they are more evenly dispersed. The fewest go to Police. Most vote for education and housing spending. https://t.co/pYGbqhBOFi
Out of 100 chips:
17 Health
12 Police
15 Education
21 Community
14 Infrastructure
21 Housing
Few students want to add money to police budget from other agencies.
“I feel the money wouldn’t change (police) training”
Some students don’t trust police to use money properly.
Suggestion to take 2 from Community Resources and add it to Health giving each 19 chips. Participants agree to change.
Students are shocked at the difference in budgets. “The point of the #peoplesbudget is to get people involved in how funds are spent.”
Two “budget reps” are selected to meet with other groups to organize around the selected budget of the people. They will meet with Aldermen and othe reps across the city.
Next portion includes is art activities
Wheat pasting
Screen printing (tshirts)
Painting https://t.co/1z0XqxKZ8S
