What is The People’s Money: Designed by Community?
The team engaged 80 community members through surveys, interviews, and design workshops, distributing approximately $3,340 in compensation to the community for their expertise. The final implementation includes recommendations for the program’s curriculum, participant recruitment strategy, mentorship, partnership model, participant support, and overall structure.
In 2025, Cambio Labs was selected through The People’s Money: Designed by Community (The People’s DxC), a pilot program of the Mayor’s Office for Economic Opportunity’s Service Design Studio (“the Studio”) and the Civic Engagement Commission’s annual citywide participatory
budgeting initiative, to launch a $165,000 youth entrepreneurship program in Morningside Heights, Hamilton Heights, Central Harlem. While The People’s Money asks New Yorkers to decide which project ideas are funded, DxC asks them to determine how those projects are implemented.
To design the program, 6 community members with deep roots in Harlem were hired as Fellows under the Designed by Community DxC) program. Over six months, from January to June 2026, the fellows led a participatory action research and service design project. They developed an implementation plan shaped by the lived experiences of the Harlem community
2027 Logic and Timeline
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What does the program offer?
These recommendations have been created in partnership with Design Fellows through the Designed by Community Fellowship process (in partnership with the Service Design Studio). Exact program details are subject to change
Cambio Program Sessions:
Instructor-led sessions where Cambio will deliver the curriculum.
Sessions are held weekly in the Fundamentals Program and bi-weekly in the Advanced Program.
Cambio Check-ins:
1:1 meetings between participants and Cambio staff to discuss progress,
identify challenges, and provide support to participants.
Financial Workshops:
Partner organizations will offer engaging financial literacy workshops to equip participants with knowledge and skills to manage their personal and business finances.
Mentorship:
(Advanced Program only) Participants will be matched with local entrepreneurs who have experience and expertise in their industries of interest.
Real World Experience
Our research with the Harlem community highlighted the importance of
learning through real world experience.
Pitch Competition & Business Showcase
Pitch Competition with family and friends at the end of the program.
Business Showcase at the end of the advanced program.
