Engaging youth members in civic engagement is a vital part of creating leaders for peace and justice. Youth members actively participate in various outreach opportunities, fostering connections with community members and simultaneously honing essential skills such as empathy, critical thinking, and leadership, ensuring transformative and holistic development.

Participatory Budgeting is a process where community members decide how to spend part of a public budget. This process allows residents to use the expertise of their neighborhood and empowers them to make direct changes.

El Puente had partnered with the Civic Engagement Commission to bring The People’s Money Citywide Participatory Budget to Bushwick. New Yorkers as young as 11 years old, regardless of immigration status, had the opportunity to submit project ideas for programs and services that would serve their communities and boroughs. These ideas were then voted on and are in the process of being implemented.

Bushwick community members voted to implement Mental & Physical Health Resources to educate Bushwick residents on the importance of health and the resources available to them in their community.

El Puente works with Council Members Jennifer Gutiérrez (District 34) & Sandy Nurse (District 37) to engage community members with the City Council's Participatory Budgeting process. Residents in Bushwick and Williamsburg have the opportunity to submit capital (construction) project proposals to share what their ideas are for their communities.

El Puente engages with community members through a variety of methods. El Puente staff table at events to encourage community members to ask questions about civic engagement. Additionally, El Puente staff speak to Bushwick and Williamsburg residents through street canvassing & door-knocking initiatives.