When over 12,000 residents cast their votes in Tacoma’s participatory budgeting process, their message was clear: invest in our youth and celebrate our cultures. Today, that community vision becomes reality as the City of Tacoma and the Foundation for Tacoma Students announce the recipients of $800,000 in funding for locally-led programming that will transform District 4’s eastside neighborhoods.
Participatory budgeting flips the traditional script on municipal spending. Instead of elected officials and city staff deciding how taxpayer dollars are allocated, residents themselves get to vote on their priorities. In District 4, which encompasses parts of East Tacoma and the South End, this process revealed what community members already knew: their neighborhoods needed more opportunities for young people to thrive and more spaces to showcase the rich cultural diversity that defines the area.
The $800,000 investment represents a recognition that the people who live in these communities are the best positioned to understand what their neighborhoods need. As Council Member Sandesh Sadalge noted, this process “gives voice to what our community wants” and supports “home-grown and local organizations” that understand the unique character of District 4.
Cultural Programming Recipients – $400,000 total
These grants will sustain three years of events that celebrate, educate, and showcase the diverse cultures that call District 4 home.
- Golden Bamboo
- Salishan Association
- All Star Vintage
- Sister Cities Council of Tacoma-Pierce County
- Toolbox Learning Laboratories
- PUSH for Dreams
- Feed Needs
Youth Programming Recipients – $400,000 total
These grants will support one year of out-of-school programs serving children and teens ages 4-18 in District 4.
- Pearl Foundation of Puget Sound
- The Game Time Way
- Innovation Change Makers
- Tacoma Arts Live
- Mi Chiantla
- Asia Pacific Cultural Center
Investing in Community Building
Half of the funding, $400,000, will sustain three years of cultural programming through seven local organizations. Organizations like Golden Bamboo, the Salishan Association, and the Asia Pacific Cultural Center will create programming that authentically represents and celebrates the diverse cultures that call District 4 home.
This cultural investment serves multiple purposes. It provides space for community members to maintain connections to their heritage, educates neighbors about different traditions and perspectives, and creates the kind of vibrant public life that makes neighborhoods more attractive places to live and do business. When communities can see themselves reflected in public programming, it builds the social cohesion that makes everything else possible.
The other $400,000 will fund a full year of out-of-school programming for children and teens ages 4-18. Organizations like Pearl Foundation of Puget Sound, and Tacoma Arts Live will create opportunities for young people during the critical hours when school is out but the workday isn’t over.
These programs address a real gap in many working families’ lives while providing enrichment opportunities that help young people develop new skills, explore interests, and build relationships with caring adults. In communities that have been generationally under-resourced, these investments can be transformative.
Community-Driven Process, Community-Owned Results
What makes this initiative particularly powerful is that every step was driven by community leadership. The Eastside Tacoma Community Leaders and Seeds of Peace, not city bureaucrats, evaluated applications and made final recommendations. This ensures that funding decisions were made by people who understand the nuances of different neighborhoods and the track records of local organizations.
This approach builds trust between residents and government while also building capacity within the community. When local leaders are involved in making these decisions, they develop deeper knowledge about what works and what doesn’t, creating a foundation for future collaboration and advocacy.
The participatory budgeting process that led to these awards represents something larger than any individual program or event. This kind of civic engagement builds the social infrastructure that makes communities more resilient and responsive to changing needs. It demonstrates that meaningful community engagement is possible, even in an era when many people feel disconnected from government decision-making.
Programming will begin in June 2025, with cultural events spanning three years and youth programming running through May 2026. But the real measure of success won’t just be in the number of events held or young people served. It will be in whether this process creates lasting connections between residents and their local government, and whether it inspires other communities to demand similar opportunities to shape their own futures.
As these programs launch over the coming months, District 4 residents will see their collective voice translated into concrete opportunities for their neighbors. It’s democracy in action, and it’s happening right in their own backyard.
