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Anusha Venkataraman, Managing Director of ONE Central Providence, spoke recently to Providence Business News about this summer's successful participatory budgeting initiative in Central Providence, the 'Nine Neighborhood Fund'.
Nearly 1,200 residents ages 13+ voted to on how to spend $1 million towards projects that will improve health and wellness across the nine neighborhoods of Central Providence. Some of the winning projects include improved bus stops, water filters for households with lead-contaminated pipes, and a peer mental health training program for high school students.
“It was about creating health equity, to try and improve community health in unique ways. It was a community-driven process from beginning to end.”
Venkataraman also highlighted the deep understanding and insights of those involved in the decision-making process. “The people at the table developing those projects were those who know about the challenges in their communities and know what will work.”
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