Community Empowerment

“We need a new kind of citizenship so that people earn the rank of the patriot because of involvement in their community affairs. We as a society need to encourage people to focus not just on individual wants but on serving the larger community.” 

– Paul Wellstone

The Problems:
  • Centralized Governance: Local communities often lack control over governance and resources.
  • Lack of Collective Action: Limited support for workers’ and citizens’ collective action undermines democratic participation.
  • Underdeveloped Communities: Insufficient investment in community development hampers local economic and cultural growth.
  • Erosion of Free Third Spaces: Public libraries, community centers, and other free third spaces face underfunding and threats of privatization, reducing access to critical resources and gathering places.

Our Solutions:
  • Local Governance: Empower local communities to have greater control over local governance and resources through participatory budgeting and community councils.
  • Collective Action: Support workers’ and citizens’ collective action, and promote their participation in democracy.
  • Community Development: Invest in community development programs that support small businesses, local infrastructure, and cultural initiatives.
  • Protection of Third Spaces: Ensure public libraries, community centers, and similar third spaces are fully funded, accessible, and protected as essential community hubs.

Our Reasoning:
  • Local Autonomy: Empowering local communities ensures that governance reflects local needs and priorities.
  • Democratic Participation: Supporting collective action strengthens democracy and ensures diverse voices are heard in decision-making.
  • Economic and Cultural Growth: Investing in community development fosters local economies and cultural vitality.
  • Social Connectivity: Protecting and funding third spaces fosters community connection, combats isolation, and provides equitable access to education, technology, and cultural resources.

How we will accomplish the task:
  • Legislative Action: Enact laws that empower local governance, support collective action, and mandate funding for public third spaces.
  • Funding Allocation: Allocate resources for community development programs, participatory budgeting initiatives, and maintenance of third spaces.
  • Public Engagement: Encourage public participation in local governance and support grassroots initiatives.

Funding:

Community Empowerment | Net 0 change in federal spending with these policies

  • Local Governance:
    • Estimated Cost: $10 billion annually (for participatory budgeting and community councils).
    • Funding Source: Reallocate from other local government programs.
  • Collective Action:
    • Estimated Cost: $5 billion annually (to support collective actions and democracy participation).
    • Funding Source: Redirect from other civic engagement programs.
  • Community Development:
    • Estimated Cost: $20 billion annually (for small business support and local infrastructure).
    • Funding Source: Reallocate from federal development grants and local infrastructure projects.
  • Third Spaces Protection:
    • Estimated Cost: $5 billion annually (to maintain and expand public libraries, community centers, and similar spaces).
    • Funding Source: Reallocate from administrative overhead in federal development grants.