Evanston Participatory Budgeting 2022-2023 Ballot
The 20 proposals on currently on the (preliminary) ballot. Click the proposal to see the description.
Each voter may select 1-7 proposals. The proposal with the most votes will be funded, followed by the proposal with the second most votes, and so on until the entire $3m funding is spent.
Voting will take place:
online, September 1-30
Sun. Sept. 10th, 2-5pm Fleetwood-Jourdain Center Project Expo
Sat. Sept. 23rd, 2-5pm Levy Senior Center Project Expo
At community centers and events throughout September (TBD)
You MUST register using the online form to receive an online ballot, (even if you already registered to vote in other elections).
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The City of Evanston would increase the size of current rental assistance programs to provide more comprehensive coverage. This program would cover 100% of rent and utility costs. The program would also reform the structure of current rent assistance programs, having a direct application tenants will be able to fill out to request assistance instead of having to wait until they have missed several month's worth of rental payments to receive support.
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This proposal aims to:
- Reduce the cost of transportation to low-income residents of Evanston
- Encourage these users to incorporate more public transit into meeting their transportation needs
- Strengthen Evanston’s participation in the RTA’s Free Transit Initiative
- Serve as a pilot for expansion to other Evanstonians
These goals will be accomplished by designing and delivering a program, based on CTA’s U Pass program, for Evanton’s low-income residents. This proposal is for 2 years of funding.
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This proposal describes a new pilot program administered through the City of Evanston to provide residents with vouchers to purchase or service bicycles. Expanding bike ownership will help meet unmet transportation needs in less walkable wards, provide residents with proven environmental, health, and safety benefits, and promote active transit to mitigate climate change.
This project can be implemented through local Evanston bike shops through an invoicing process run by City of Evanston staff. Other programs e.g. those in Denver, CO provide similar vouchers.
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foresTREE interns will develop skills, learn about career opportunities in the growing field of green jobs, and develop a sense of environmental stewardship. They will be trained in the latest tree care procedures, become certified, and equipped to help make Evanston a more resilient, greener, climate-ready community. This two-year project supports development of foresTREE interns as a program coordinated with the Workforce Development, the Ecology Center and Forestry departments. Teams will attend workshops to learn more about trees and the green industry in general. The program will also help youth and adults to explore opportunities in green jobs like urban forestry and horticulture.
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After the pandemic demonstrated the problems with the food supply chain, let's double down on proven small community garden efforts to create a one-acre urban farm, Evanston Farms, that sustainably grows four-season hyper-local vegetables as well as fruit and nut-tree orchards.
The healthy, nutritious food grown here can be distributed free or at a low cost to food-insecure households and communities and eventually can become self-funding.
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Propose Mental health first-aid training (MHFA) for teachers and administrators in schools, police stations, fire stations, libraries, community centers, and other community/public service infrastructures. Mental health first aid training (MHFA) is a potential preventative solution to address increasing mental health concerns that arose throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Through this training, public service employees will be better equipped to respond to mental health challenges with greater care, knowledge, and experience.
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The Evanston Mobile Dental Van (EMDV) project will service the entire Evanston area, especially the 5th Ward. Services will include cleaning, screening, x-rays, sealants, dentures, extractions, and more. The EMDV would have three (3) to six (6) operative chairs, basin sinks, and typical dental equipment seen at a private practice. The Van may include dental working space; X-ray facilities; a sterilization system; and computer for processing claims, updating medical records, and scheduling appointments. Water source for the van would be built-in via interchangeable/refillable reservoirs. Both scheduled appointments (priority) and walk-ins would be welcomed.
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This proposal would improve positive outcomes for students by providing grants and incentives to encourage access and participation of racially marginalized students in Evanston to close the achievement and opportunity gap that has existed for decades. The targeted population is Evanston students in 3rd through 12th grade. It would provide funding for grants to students in grades 3-8 for programming and camps offered in Evanston. Also, it will fund incentives for students in grades 9-12 for utilizing resources in Evanston or those that serve Evanston students that will assist in their development of post-graduate planning.
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An Evanston-owned small business incubator is a place where entrepreneurs with sustainable business models, but who lack resources can implement their ideas. The program's goals are to increase Evanston resident-owned small businesses, increase commercial activity, and increase new businesses' ability to survive beyond one year.
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The Community Events Fund would provide financial support for community-building events in Evanston for one year. Application for the fund would be available through the City of Evanston website where organizers can also request to have information about the different services accessible in Evanston at their event.
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The Empowered Parents program is a comprehensive entrepreneurial program designed specifically for teen parents who aspire to build successful businesses while effectively managing their parental responsibilities. This program aims to provide the necessary knowledge, skills, and support system to empower teen parents in achieving financial independence and creating a better future for themselves and their children. By providing a nurturing environment, comprehensive education, and a strong support system, the Empowered Parents program aims to equip teen parents with the tools and knowledge they need to succeed as entrepreneurs while fulfilling their parental responsibilities and building a prosperous future for themselves and their children.
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On a weekly basis if successful, this proposal will assist approximately five hundred to one thousand pre-teens, teenagers, young adults, and families to participate in physical activities, and provide employment opportunities for at risk youth, young adults and their families.
In order for the program to be successful, we are requesting the replacement of the gymnasium floor at Fleetwood-Jourdain, because the current floor is not conducive to everything that our committee and families need. We have found that pretty much any activity could be done on a new multi-purpose gymnasium floor from roller skating to Zumba, aerobics, squash and even basketball. A new multi-purpose gymnasium floor would truly allow everyone in Evanston to utilize the gym at Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center to its full capacity.
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There is a heightened need to create safe spaces for at-risk youth in the City of Evanston, not only for safety for the youth, but for recreation and environments in which they are able to study in peace and quiet, increase their skills and expand their knowledge of diverse subjects.
With a successful outcome, this proposal will assist approximately five hundred to one thousand pre-teens, teenagers and young adults who will participate in programs created by the Participatory Budgeting Youth & Young Adult Division committee. The programs will not only provide structure, but will help to garner additional services and support from community based organizations throughout Evanston, which will help to stabilize and provide balance to the current work/recreation space being utilized. If funded, the proposal will make renovations to the drop in center, and provide funding for team building and retreats.
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To ensure that existing programs as well as programs created by participatory budgeting, this proposal would create an outreach plan designed by existing low-income community leaders.
Specifically hiring 10-15 low-income Evanston leaders who would go door-to-door in marginalized communities as well as community events. By utilizing parent leaders, this outreach would ensure that marginalized communities are aware of the programs in Evanston being offered.
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This proposal provides funding under ARPA guidelines to 501(c)(3) organizations that support the migrant housing crisis.
Specifically, addressing housing assistance to migrant Evanston residents that are disproportionately underserved due to language and cultural barriers and anti-Black sentiments. Efforts will go towards adding additional languages to assist this community obtain housing.
This proposal includes supporting housing services to Evanston citizens with Refugee status, Asylum seekers and grantees
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This proposal is for an African/Caribbean Diaspora Cultural Center that will serve as a full-service center, bridging the gap between racially marginalized immigrants to create a safe space for families and individuals from different parts of the African diaspora to come together and share the similarities and differences of their cultures amongst themselves and the Evanston community. Our goal is to serve as the liaison for all people, servicing their needs, including partnerships with organizations that service this demographic.
In order to serve the maximum amount of Black community and Black immigrants, this proposal supports a partnership with Shorefront to expand a focused collection on Black immigrants.
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This proposal provides 3 years of funding for a community space in Evanston that is dedicated to the research, preservation, celebration and creation of Asian American history, art and culture. This space will serve and support the local Asian American community with an emphasis on the diversity of the Asian American diaspora and intersectional identities, and act as a resource center and point of connection for outside social services, mental health, immigration, translation and legal services.
Cultural heritage, traditional arts and craft, and ethnic celebrations are the life force of Asian Americans. They are central to community building, storytelling, intergenerational connection, and cultural preservation. Establishing a community space for the Asian American community as an art and culture center meets the community where it's at in order to address physical, psychological and spiritual needs. Cultural programming will also raise awareness, education, and engagement in Asian cultures through visual, musical, performance, language and culinary arts for the whole community helping to disrupt harmful stereotypes that perpetuate racism and injustice.
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The City of Evanston currently has a subsidized transportation card where seniors are able to load money onto a transportation debit card and the City will match their contribution. This proposal would use ARPA funds to increase the amount of money available to seniors and decrease the amount they need to pay. If seniors load at least $25 onto the transportation debit card, they would have access to and additional $150 benefit from a combination of City Funds and ARPA funds. In total, qualifying seniors would have $175 between their contribution and the City’s contribution to use to cover taxi fees.
