CIANA is excited to be on the ballot for this year’s Participatory Budgeting cycle in District 22! Residents can vote to allot $20,000 for a new in-person Tutoring and Homework Help Center in Astoria, among a number of other exciting projects that will improve the neighborhood as a whole.
Every year, elected officials set aside $1 million for projects that will improve overall health, safety, and wellbeing of local communities. Neighborhood residents propose projects which are then voted on by the entire community. District 22, represented by Council Member Tiffany Cabán, is one such district participating this year, and we’re grateful to be involved.
This year, CIANA has proposed $20,000 to open an Tutoring and Homework Help Center and bring back in-person homework help to students in Astoria. District 22 residents have the opportunity to make this a reality.
Prior to the pandemic, CIANA hosted a homework help program for elementary school students twice a week at our office. The program drew families from all over Astoria whose children needed to improve their reading, writing, math, and test prep skills. Since 2020, the program has taken place virtually with great success. We’re hoping to bring it back in-person in its own space (with a virtual/hybrid option), and to expand it to include both elementary and middle school students (grades 1-8).
There are many more exciting projects on the ballot in addition to our own, such as technical upgrades to local public schools, a mobile science lab for community events, a mentoring program for girls ages 11-17, and additional trash bins and garbage pickup throughout the district. Learn more about all the proposed projects here.
Anyone age 11 or older who lives, works, or attends school in District 22 can vote. Enter your home, work, or school address at council.nyc.gov/districts to make sure you’re eligible.
Voting begins Saturday, March 25 with a Project Expo at Council Member Cabán’s office in Astoria from 1-4PM. Voting continues until Sunday, April 2, either online, or in-person at the locations on the flier to the right.
Spread the world on social media to get out the vote as widely as possible. Participatory Budgeting is an innovative way to get direct impact from community members, and we’d like to see as big a turnout as possible!