Adding a dash of "geek" to help nonprofits and small businesses do good work

Participatory budgeting in Spanish Harlem

This is what I overheard a young man say to his buddy when they were looking over a sample “participatory budgeting” ballot outside the offices of NYC Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito. A community organizer sitting at a folding table set up on the sidewalk was encouraging the two passers-by to go inside and vote. The young man’s buddy pointed to the ballot and exclaimed “that playground is right up the street!” They seemed excited at the the chance to vote for specific projects that would happen right there in the neighborhood.

Today I watched a steady stream of East Harlem residents visit the offices of NYC Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito. They came to vote on how the council member should spend $1 million from her discretionary funds. Read More »