Friend-to-friend outreach
For Participatory Budgeting to work, we need to make sure that everyone in Evanston is invited to participate. But people often ignore announcements from the city and don’t want to talk to PB canvassers. People are much more likely to listen to information about PB if it comes friends and family. So the best first action you can take as a volunteer is to encourage your friends and family to sign up.
Fortunately, reaching out to friends and family is easy! Use the templates below to help 5-10 friends and family members sign up for announcements about how to participate in PB. Let your point person know if you need any help and how it goes! If you don’t have a point person, email info@pbevanston.org and we’ll assign you one.
Register to vote - email template
Subject: Welcome to PB Evanston and register to vote!
Hi <<friend>>,
I just registered to vote for Evanston’s Participatory budgeting process and thought you might want to sign up too.
The city has given us $3m to decide how to spend on affordable housing, environment, education, mental health — anything to make Evanston better. Community members have already submitted and developed ideas, and we’ll vote on which ones to fund this September. You can find out more at pbevanston.org and the City's website including the ideas currently being developed.
Please sign up at https://forms.office.com/r/AHFNtqf0Va!
Thanks!
Register to vote - text
Hi <<friend>>! Have you signed up for Participatory Budgeting yet? The city has given us $3m and we get to vote on how to spend it to improve Evanston — you can see the proposals at pbevanston.org. Would you be willing to register to receive your participatory budgeting ballot online?
Email Template - Idea Collection Assembly
Subject: Participatory budgeting idea collection
Happy Monday Neighbors!
I wanted to invite you to Evanston’s participatory budgeting idea collection assembly [Tuesday, Nov 22 6:45-7:15 at Robert Crown].
The City setting aside $3 million and will facilitate a process where community members can directly vote on allocation of those funds. The idea is to better address our city’s needs, make government policy more equitable, and train future leaders. At the idea collection event we will learn about the PB process and brainstorm ideas with other Evanstonians, and they will provide food, childcare, transportation and intepreters.
I’ve signed up and I am excited to participate!
If you or someone you know are interested participating or learning more, [RSVP Link], and let me know!
Best!
[your name]
Email Template - Sign up to newsletter
Subject: Neighbors — Evanston is starting Participatory Budgeting
Happy Monday Neighbors!
I have just learned that the City of Evanston is seeking citizen involvement in a new process called Participatory Budgeting.
The City setting aside $3 million and will facilitate a process where community members can directly vote on allocation of those funds. The idea is to better address our city’s needs, make government policy more equitable, and train future leaders. I’ve signed up and I am excited to participate.
If you or someone you know are interested participating or learning more, signup online, and let me know!
Best!
[your name]
Specific event invite
Hi [friend], are you available on Nov 22, 6:45-8:45PM to volunteer at a City of Evanston Idea Collection Assembly for Participatory Budgeting? Please [RSVP here] by the end of next week!
If you're looking to meet other like-minded Evanston residents, to make a concrete and long-lasting impact in Evanston, or to improve teaching and leadership skills, I'd encourage you to sign up!
LinkedIn Post Template
Evanston Friends: The City is experimenting with Participatory Budgeting to allocate some of the ARPA funding we are receiving. This is an exciting exercise in direct democracy and community engagement. Click to learn more and sign up. People from all walks of life welcome. #participate #Evanston #democracy