Future-Ready Society Conference Series: Learning Journey 1 – Participatory Budgeting

Anita Dos Santos currently serves as the Advocacy Manager at Participatory Budgeting Project. She works with government agencies, schools, and community-based organizations to develop strategies for implementing participatory budgeting in their contexts. Prior to this role, she was an advocate for affordable housing and tenants’ rights, providing holistic services to housing-insecure families and training partners to provide the same quality of care. Drawing on her community engagement work, Anita works to center and amplify community voice as the starting point for transformation within our democracy. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Latin American Studies from Queens College and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Social Work at Fordham University. She is a lifelong resident of New York City.

Brian Wampler is a Professor of Public Scholarship and Engagement, Office of the President at Boise State University, and Professor of Political Science in the School of Public Service. Dr Wampler’s influential work draws from eight Brazilian municipalities to analyse the success and challenges of participatory budgeting. Through his research, he illuminates the factors influencing PB outcomes, particularly in advancing governmental accountability and citizen empowerment for marginalized communities, contributing to the advancement of social justice and effective democratic governance. Wampler earned his Ph.D. at the University of Texas, Austin, and his BA in Politics at the University of California, Santa Cruz. He currently lives in Boise, Idaho with his family.