@joshalerner.bsky.social
People Powered co-director, Participatory Budgeting Project founder, #MakingDemocracyFun author. Posts about participatory democracy, vegan eats, dad jokes. he/él
The end is nigh.
06.02.2026 13:17 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Once again, it is local governments that are forging ahead on climate action. Amsterdam is set to become the first capital city in the world to ban meat advertising in public spaces, part of a broader effort to promote healthier, lower-emission, plant-based diets. Hopefully other cities will follow.
01.02.2026 08:28 — 👍 7 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0
⏰ 3 days left! Ticket sales for the People Powered 2026 Convening close on Feb 2.
March 2–5 in Nairobi: workshops, site visits, and democracy practitioners tackling climate, inclusion, and narrative change.
👉 peoplepowered.org/2026-convening-program
#PeoplePowered #PPNairobi26
While old models of democracy fall apart, participatory budgeting continues to grow. #PeoplePower
25.01.2026 14:32 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
They blame immigrants so you won't blame billionaires.
reminder:
24.01.2026 15:00 — 👍 215 🔁 76 💬 2 📌 1Come work with me! People Powered is hiring for two positions. Please share with anyone interested in building a more participatory democracy, while working with a fun and growing global community. 🙏🏼
16.01.2026 13:31 — 👍 3 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0We cannot let this president drag us into more endless wars that risk the lives of American service members and civilians abroad.
The attack last night on Venezuela was unnecessary and unauthorized. The President’s actions are reckless and illegal.
Tulsi Gabbard in 2019:
"The United States needs to keep our hands off Venezuela... end these destructive and wasteful regime change wars... proven to cause more problems, increase suffering, increase instability for the people in the countries where we wage these wars. In Latin America especially".
“If Zohran Mamdani is serious about delivering on his promises, he needs more than policies — he needs institutions that empower working people. Popular assemblies offer a way to build a new, bottom-up political culture in New York City.”
jacobin.com/2025/12/mamd...
📰 New Strategies for Renewing Democracy
Faced with rising attacks on democracy, the EU has raised a Democracy Shield. But marching into battle with only a shield is a recipe for defeat. To reverse democratic backsliding, we also need new strategies for expanding democracy👇🏼
philea.eu/opinions/bey...
Applications are open for our Democratic Innovations Accelerator (DIA)! ⏰
We'll be supporting 40 selected participants working on youth-led participatory programs with free mentoring, training and tools.
Apply by Nov 30: nets4dem.eu/democratic-i...
Congratulations to @celinasu.bsky.social for launching her new book Budget Justice in NYC tonight! Go read it! Lots of insights into #participatorybudgeting and other movements to build public power over public money. ❤️
press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
I'm shaking almost too hard to type. I entered SLC airport and heard screams and cries for help. I could see people gathered around, watching. I sped over to discover this woman face down on the floor, four grown men pushing her down, while she cried "HELP ME" and pled for her child.
29.10.2025 22:23 — 👍 7636 🔁 4001 💬 52 📌 794Why don’t Democrats create visual imagery to change the #shutdown story? For example:
1️⃣ Set up a negotiation room with chairs for the key players.
2️⃣ Show up every day.
3️⃣ Take pictures and video, of Democrats literally at the negotiation table, and Republicans absent.
4️⃣ Share & repeat. Be creative!
This isn’t government efficiency. It’s putting people’s lives at risk, by cutting the essential government services that they rely on.
20.10.2025 16:39 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
As democratic practices decay in the United States and elsewhere, the tendency is to defend existing institutions. But building new paths is just as important. Read more from @joshalerner.bsky.social nonprofitquarterly.org/three-emergi...
16.10.2025 16:04 — 👍 4 🔁 3 💬 0 📌 1
New Article Alert: Looking for better ways to defend/protect/promote/renew/expand democracy? In @npquarterly.bsky.social I lift up three of the most promising strategies for renewing democracy from around the world. Try them out!
nonprofitquarterly.org/three-emergi...
The real highlight of #TheLifeofaShowgirl is how it reminded me to listen to #BRAT again. 🙏🏼
04.10.2025 15:50 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Another violent attack by an ICE officer on a civilian at 26 Federal Plaza—this time on a journalist, who had to be carried out on stretcher.
Another attack on the First Amendment, our neighbors, and our democracy.
I was back at 26 Federal Plaza today, where an ICE agent violently threw this bereft woman to the ground in front of her kids. She had not touched him. She did not pose any threat. She had to be taken to the hospital. (🎥: Elias Eliahu)
25.09.2025 18:03 — 👍 28066 🔁 14034 💬 5711 📌 4032
From a 2 million-strong online petition in France to new insights on Euroscepticism, crowdlaw and disinformation, there's plenty happening in democratic innovation.
Learn more in the latest Nets4Dem newsletter 👇
bit.ly/47M5eZM
“Democracy is, in the beginning and in the end, a belief that we can live together despite difference and choose the future together.” @anandwrites.bsky.social
🙏🏼
open.substack.com/pub/anandwri...
Deadline extended to July 6!
Apply to the People Powered’s Accelerators & Mentorships for support, resources, and training in participatory democracy and citizenship engagement.
Details: www.peoplepowered.org/news-content...
#Democracy #PeoplePowered
This is an illegal war of aggression. There is no direct threat, no provocation, no need, and no Congressional approval. The only people this serves are the autocrats trying to cling to power.
22.06.2025 01:52 — 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0#NoKings in Kings County, or anywhere in the US!
14.06.2025 17:34 — 👍 4 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
Yes! When urban planners learn from organizers they get more done.
@nextcity.org
nextcity.org/urbanist-new...
Like for the mayoral election, I can’t believe some of these options made it to the ranked choice bagel ballot! Come on NYC, we can do better. #TeamEverything
www.wnyc.org/bagelvote
Globally, communities are facing urgent challenges, and participatory democracy is delivering solutions.
So far, we've helped launch or improve 85 participatory programs, supported 1,100 democracy champions + more!
See how we’re building a more inclusive future: www.peoplepowered.org/our-impact
