3.2 Winning Ideas

From May 1 to June 16, 2024, 139,688 New Yorkers voted on how to spend part of the city budget to address community needs. Of those residents, 108,364 voted in person on paper ballots and 31,324 voted digitally. Below are the results of those votes.

See how these ideas came to life!

BRONX

26,592 Bronx residents voted in The People’s Money in 2024! Each project received $174,000 of funding.

• Job Training for Young Adults and Adults in Trade Work: The program will provide vocational training to people 18 years old and up. They will learn how to be independent contractors and get commercial and city contracts. At the end of the program job fairs will make solid connections. (16,240 Votes)

• College Prep and Career Readiness for Youth: A program that will connect teens who are facing educational barriers by providing paid internships, including job shadowing, and free college visits. (13,998 Votes)

• Creative Mental Wellness Program for Families with Children: A series of workshops for families with a curriculum that will focus on self-empowerment. Includes wellness counseling, field trips around NYS, and visual arts and music as therapeutic tools. (13,405 Votes)

• Slashing Bronx Hunger and Boosting Knowledge About Healthy Eating: A program working with local organizations such as food pantries, community gardens, and urban farms that will provide healthy eating and nutrition classes and food assistance resources. (13,185 Votes)

• Youth Activity and Enrichment Program with the Arts: Free after-school art workshops for high school students that include transportation and referrals. Includes events and a showcase of the youth's works of art and talent. (12,971 Votes)

BROOKLYN

40,133 Brooklyn residents voted in The People’s Money in 2024! Each project received $200,000 of funding.

• Life Prep for High School Students 101: Classes to teach high school students skills and strategies for personal and professional development such as budgeting, taxes, understanding healthcare, nutrition, personal care, and job interview skills. (22,982 Votes)

• Language and Job Recertification Information for Immigrants: Provide information for new immigrants on how to obtain recertification in NYS for careers and skills they learned in their home countries. Language classes will be provided. (19,952 Votes)

• Errands for Older Adults and People with Disabilities: A program that matches helpers with seniors and people with disabilities to assist with running errands and picking up groceries. Applicants will be screened for language and cultural relevance. (19,394 Votes)

• Path to Success: Positive Money Habits: Classes for low-income people, using current financial management tools, to help them manage and protect their personal resources. Information about apprenticeship programs will also be made available. (18,231 Votes)

• Home Repair Liaisons for Older Adults: This program will connect young adults to older adults seeking assistance with light home repairs. Training would be provided for the young adults as well as a stipend. (17,784 Votes)

MANHATTAN

19,936 Manhattan residents voted in The People’s Money in 2024! Each project received $150,000 of funding.

• Mothers’ Matter: A program geared toward young mothers to address mental health, pregnancy care and postpartum care including breastfeeding. This program will provide mentorship & therapeutic support to low income mothers. (10,421 Votes)

• Restorative Justice Education for Youth: Classes for low-income people, using current financial management tools, to help them manage and protect their personal resources. Information about apprenticeship programs will also be made available. (9,976 Votes)

• Self- Defense Education for Women: The program will provide self-defense and situation awareness for women 18 yrs old and above. The purpose is to educate them on personal safety and the ability to defuse potentially dangerous encounters (9,880 Votes).

• Resource Outreach for People with Disabilities: Classes for low-income people, using current financial management tools, to help them manage and protect their personal resources. Information about apprenticeship programs will also be made available.(9,618 Votes)

QUEENS

43,020 Queens residents voted in The People’s Money in 2024! Each project received $170,000 of funding.

• Healthy Meals Partnership: Restaurants will partner with local food pantries to provide healthy meals. Families will pick up the food at monthly healthy food workshops focused on health issues. Services will be multilingual. (21,225 Votes)

• Youth Empowerment Afterschool Workshops: After-school programs to serve 10 to 19-year-olds living in public housing by providing arts and crafts, boxing, dancing, ASL education, and homework help. It will also include counselors and peer mentorship. (20,665 Votes)

• Connection Resource Center: The center will connect people to services such as food assistance, housing, healthcare, employment, and more. Reaching out to youth, immigrants, people with low income, and people with disabilities. (19,157 Votes)

• Bridging the Skills Gaps: Job Training for High Schoolers: Prepare HS students with career readiness programs that include workshops led by professionals. Activities may include resume-building, mock interviews, and networking to connect students with opportunities. (19,040 Votes)

• Connectivity Program for Seniors: Seniors who are isolated due to ill health or citizenship status need places to go. This project will connect youth and seniors and provide transportation, technology, and language access. (18,924 Votes)

STATEN ISLAND

10,007 Staten Island residents voted in The People’s Money in 2024! This project received $180,000 of funding.

• Building Success for High School Students: This after-school program for high school students will provide education and workforce development to young people from underserved communities to reduce barriers and improve their chances for success. (5,007 Votes)