$40,000. For residents on Milwaukee’s northwest side. They will now vote on dozens of proposed community projects to decide how that money is invested in their community. The African American Roundtable (AART) is providing the funding as part of its pilot program on participatory budgeting. The concept is a collective process in which community members directly decide how public dollars, or in this case organizational monies, are spent. A steering committee of seven resident leaders helped create the process and establish guidelines. AART received more than 30 proposals on which residents can now vote on through October 6. The ideas that earn the most support will be funded.

Report by: Kim Shine