Editor’s note: King County Local Services is checking in with some of the winners of the first Participatory Budgeting vote to see how the funding – which the county’s new process made possible by giving voters an opportunity to choose how funds are spent in their neighborhoods – has helped. 

Grant winner: Double Dutch Divas 

Amount: $30,000 

Project: Funding for 35 free sessions for Double Dutch jump rope education, community engagement and school events in the Skyway area, including community events and pop-ups this summer. The workshops are open to all youth in Skyway. Students who participate in the events receive community mentorship, skill-building (including leadership and active listening) and social skills for healthy living. 

Reason funds are important: “Double Dutch Divas is a wonderful enrichment program for the youth, for the community, for the environment,” says Angie Mosley, CEO and founder of the program. “We want to make this program sustainable so that we can continue to serve the Skyway community. I want to grow the program and teach Skyway youth the art of rope turning. I even hope to employ them (the youth who learned Double Dutch) next summer to help with future workshops.“ 
 
Participatory Budgeting made it possible. Reaction?: “It means that they trusted us and that means a lot. There are a lot of times organizations get grants and they promise to the community, ‘This is what we’re going to do with this money’ and then it doesn’t happen. But what happened with us is we were doing this for the community even without the money. So now, we’re going to be able to provide services to the BIPOC community without the BIPOC community spending money it doesn’t have. There are lot of times the community members can’t engage in certain activities because of their wealth, or their family situation. With Double Dutch Divas, we’re able to provide all of this greatness, jump-roping, to kids who are in need.” 
 
Anything else?: “Thank you, community, for trusting in Double Dutch Divas. We will not let you down.”