'Best Practice in Citizen Participation'

Photo credit: City of Osorio.

I'll be in Valongo, Portugal, Oct. 17-19 for the International Observatory of Participatory Democracy conference, the leading event of the participatory world. One bit of suspense: who will be awarded for "Best Practice in Participatory Democracy" from among the 40 finalists. Many of the entries come from cities and involve local democracy.

Here is a link to the full list of finalists. Several entries stood out for me, from the way that the small city of Osorio, in Brazil, supported children in participating in the drafting of city plans, to the "Bank of Ideas" in Belfast.