From Grassroots to Government: Meet the People Powered Members Reimagining Democracy

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Governments are changing — thanks to public officials like these who are bringing participatory democracy into the halls of power.

This month, we’re highlighting some of the People Powered members who are policymakers and civil servants bringing citizen participation into their work! 

Learn more about two of them below:

Matthew Slaats, Richmond City Council

How did you get started in participatory democracy? Tell us a little bit about your personal journey. 

My introduction to participatory democracy came through the arts. Much of this I contribute to my father who worked for Wisconsin Public Radio. As a teen, I was exposed to music, theatre, and television as a way of being in and exploring the world. Upon arriving in college, I became interested in cities as creative forms and how they mixed together physical, geographic, cultural, political and economic systems to create a place for people to live. This led to a series of projects that used creativity and design to envision new opportunities for community development. 

As an artist, I used oral histories, digital media, and technology to embed people’s memories of where they lived. It was through this work that I began to realize the limited role people had in realizing their vision for their neighborhoods. I directly experienced the ways people are disenfranchised, and cities go through purposeful disinvestment to the benefit of others. It was in the juxtaposition of decay and creativity that I became deeply committed to various forms of participatory democracy. I have spent the rest of my life working with communities to center their voices in the decisions that impact their lives.  

What are some projects or initiatives you are currently working on that you’re excited about? 

The Richmond People’s Budget, which completed its first cycle in April 2025, is the culmination of over 10 years of advocating for participatory budgeting in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Having studied and seen similar efforts taking place around the US, it is exciting to be at the forefront of making these ideas a reality in the South. The most inspiring aspect of this work has been how it brought people together from across the City of Richmond to not just fight against projects they do not see having value, but to work for what their city can become and be at the center of making that a reality. In a time when democracy can feel so far away, this is spurring new ideas and opportunities for realizing the promises that are at the foundation of our country.  

What challenges do you face in bringing participatory democracy into your work as a policymaker or in government? 

When we began the Richmond People’s Budget, my biggest concern was the lack of trust that people had in government. I assumed this would be a constant refrain, reinforced by pervasive narratives in the news and online. In response, we focused on not just doing this work to or for the community but truly with them. As we completed this work, I began to see that our greatest challenge didn’t come from the community but from within government. Brilliant administrators, who deeply [understand] Mahow cities work, had little trust in the community. The lived knowledge of residents had no value. Instead of seeing residents as a resource, they were more of a risk. At best residents were able to share their wisdom, but it was rare to see that knowledge recognized and understood. If we are to truly realize the promise of democracy, it is going to require making participation a habit and ritual in all that the city does.  

 How do you feel you have benefited from being part of the People Powered community? 

People Powered has been an ongoing inspiration in all of my work. I continually return to the resource guides, which allow me to be at the forefront of a constantly changing landscape of data and practices. This information informs decisions about the ecosystem we are building in Richmond. Very early in our efforts, we had the opportunity to be mentored by an amazing group of practitioners. They provided tangible and actionable knowledge as we took initial steps with the Richmond People’s Budget. Most importantly, People Powered has connected me to a vast array of people working around the world. When things can feel lonely, this community has nurtured and stood up for all that we are trying to accomplish.  

 What do you hope to accomplish in participatory democracy in the coming years in your government or institution? How do you think being part of People Powered can help you achieve those goals? 

The first thing that we are focused on here in Richmond is following through on the promises that we made as a part of the Richmond People’s Budget. Trust is hard to get and easy to lose. We are committed to making this work as successful for the residents of the city as possible. Now that we have done the budgeting work, we want to now shift to participatory policy through a civic assembly. As budgeting and policy are core to the role of Richmond City Council, we want to facilitate ways for residents to be at the heart of that work. People Powered will be a constant connection to resources and people that will help guide that work.  

Alekz Aguila, Monterrey, Mexico City 

How did you get started in participatory democracy? Tell us a little bit about your personal journey.

In 2014, I began working on land-use planning projects that required close engagement with communities to decide how their lands would be used, particularly for productive purposes. It was then that I started integrating various methodologies to capture diverse voices—and crucially, to shift away from traditional majority representation. 

I would say that what sparked my interest in driving these participatory processes was that, during the diagnostic phase, it became very clear how many of the ideas coming from the more economically privileged sectors were vastly different from those of people with much lower incomes. This led me to reflect on the need to challenge the hegemonic narratives often upheld by individuals who, from a structural perspective, could be seen as oppressors, and to place equal value on voices that have historically been less heard and taken into account.

Over the years, I deepened my work with NGOs to support marginalised communities, creating spaces and activities that produced tangible documents outlining how these communities defined their own collective development.  

This led to an invitation to collaborate with Nuevo León (Mexico)’s newly established Secretariat for Citizen Participation—where all senior and mid-level officials came from civil society with no prior government experience. There, I coordinated the implementation of legally mandated participatory mechanisms and co-designed Mexico’s first Citizens’ Climate Assembly [in September 2024]. By centering voices from climate-vulnerable communities in the State Climate Change Programme, we set a national and Latin American benchmark for participatory democracy in action and direct government-citizen collaboration.  

What projects or initiatives are you currently excited about?

I now coordinate the Whales or Gas? campaign, an international coalition advocating for inclusive Mexican participation in stopping the fossil gas project Saguaro Energía, which threatens the biodiversity of the Gulf of California (the "Aquarium of the World").  

As part of the Whales or Gas? campaign, we are conducting participatory diagnostics to shed light on how people in rural areas are not necessarily aligned with a development model based on the industrialisation of their territories.

The campaign amplifies voices calling for energy alternatives beyond capitalist frameworks that exploit territories and their resources.  

What challenges do you face in advancing participatory democracy?

[We face] persistent resistance to these approaches from officials entrenched in traditional public engagement models, who struggle to envision inclusive alternatives. Mexico also grapples with the stigma that representative democracy is the only valid form [of democracy], leaving little room for innovative processes that elevate all voices—not just majorities. Additionally, limited public funding for participatory mechanisms persists, as citizen engagement is often treated as an add-on rather than a governing principle.  

We had to develop a strategy to persuade the state governor (the highest authority at the state level) that the Citizens' Climate Assembly [in Nuevo León] was an internationally significant initiative for the institution. This, in turn, led his office to issue instructions for us to be supported. That enabled a more open dialogue with initially unconvinced stakeholders. As we moved forward with the design, we made sure to keep them regularly informed of key milestones, which helped them to better understand the proposal. To the point where, nearly a year later, the institution that implemented the programme fed by this exercise is still reporting back.

For me, this has been incredibly rewarding, as I never expected this type of official to end up giving us the level of support we ultimately received.

How has People Powered benefited your work?

Through skill-building, training and shared global experiences now underpin my innovative efforts. Engaging with diverse realities isn’t just inspiring—it proves alternatives are possible.

What are your future goals, and how can People Powered help?

Though no longer in government, I maintain ties to officials. Sharing People Powered tools (e.g., funding opportunities) can support better policymaking.  

These are just two of the policymakers in our global network working to make democracy more participatory, inclusive, and just. 

👉 Learn more about our newest members — and  apply to become a member:

Next month, we’ll feature a reflection by Celia Ramírez Aréchiga on the challenges and promise of institutionalizing participation in Mexico. Connect with us to stay updated!