In this episode of the "New Chattanooga Podcast," Marie Mott explores the concept of Participatory Budgeting (PB) as a transformative approach to Chattanooga's budgeting process. She contrasts PB with traditional top-down methods, highlighting its potential to empower communities by directly involving them in allocating public funds. Marie emphasizes the need for change in the current bureaucratic system, pointing out its lack of transparency and community input. Drawing on the grassroots efforts of Concerned Citizens for Justice in 2017, Marie discusses how PB can increase civic engagement, ensure accountability, and address the needs of marginalized groups. She encourages listeners to get involved in the PB process to help shape Chattanooga's future into a more inclusive and democratic one, fostering a New Chattanooga that works for all its residents.