The Wingspan Project is partnering with Live Oak, Inc. to offer the Valuing Difference Awards.  Our collaboration builds on the aligned beliefs and common history shared by our two organizations.  This year, we will be offering one Graduate Student Award for $1000 and one Community Activist/Achievement Award for $1000.  The key elements of our beliefs that drive this program are:

The Wingspan Project:
  • ​Believes in making mental health and related services available to underserved, marginalized, and/or disenfranchised people through organizational and individual capacity building
  • Is dedicated to supporting services to people who have experienced discrimination and stigma and to those whose identities are particularly vulnerable to systems of oppression
  • Is committed to helping individuals and organizations optimize services to underrepresented, underserved, and underestimated communities
  • focuses on helping people who help people

Live Oak
  • Believes that In responding to systems of marginalization, people and communities often cope in ways that magnify feelings of shame, low self-esteem, and disconnection
  • Recognizes the consequences of privilege, oppression, discrimination and stigma
  • Affirms the value of difference, emphasizing the extent to which growth and connection is enhanced more from our differences than from our similarities
  • ​Provides clients with opportunities to reduce the disintegrating effects of power and privilege to promote self- actualization and integration. 

Graduate Student Award
One graduate student will be selected for an award in the amount of $1000.

Eligible Applicants
​Students currently enrolled or about to begin graduate programs in any of the following disciplines: Social Work, Clinical Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, Art Therapy, Dance/Movement Therapy, Psychology, or a related field.  The intention of this award is to encourage and support new clinicians who are aligned with the values described above and plan to implement them in their practice.

Community Activism and Achievement Award
One community activist will be selected for an award in the amount of $1000.
 
Eligible Applicants
Persons actively engaged in community activism, organizing, advocacy, or support.  The intention of this award is to encourage and support activists, organizers, advocates, and other support people who are aligned with the values described above and plan to implement them in their work.

Phase 1 
June 1, 2023 - August 31, 2023
Applicants will submit all of the following materials no later than 11:59pm on August 31, 2023.
  • Resume, CV, or outline of relevant experience.  If applicable, applicants are encouraged to provide examples of relevant work by providing portfolios (in PDF format) or links to artwork, writing, webpages, videos, news articles, etc.)
  • One letter of reference from someone who can speak to your academic or community accomplishments
  • Position Statement (no more than 2. pages, double spaced) addressing the following prompts:
    1. How do your goals relate to the values that serve as the framework for this award? Please feel free to draw from personal and professional experiences when constructing your response. 
    2. How will you use the award in a way that is consistent with the values of both Live Oak and The Wingspan Project?
​ 
Please submit your completed application/materials to:
tcalhoun@thewingspanproject.org.  You may also reach out to this address with any questions.  Please state "Valuing Difference Awards" in your subject line.

Phase 2
September 1 - September 15, 2023
All completed applications will be reviewed and final round applicants will be invited to in-person interviews with a panel of representatives from Live Oak and The Wingspan Project. Applicants will be informed of their application status no later than January 15, 2022, and will be provided with the dates of their final round interview to be held later in January.

Phase 3
September 16 - September 30, 2023
Final round applicants are invited to complete in-person (or virtual) interviews with a panel of representatives from Live Oak and The Wingspan Project. These interviews are intended to allow applicants to more thoroughly describe their previous experience and future personal, professional, and/or activism related goals. Applicants are encouraged to bring any materials with them that would help support their application, if applicable. 

Prior to completing the final interview, applicants will be asked to provide a 2-3 sentence summary about the focus of their previous or current work, as well as how they plan on utilizing the award if chosen. Additionally, applicants will be asked to provide a headshot. These blurbs and headshots will be posted on the websites for Live Oak and The Wingspan Project to announce award winners. 

​Phase 4
Award Winners Announced
October 1-15, 2023
All final round applicants will be notified of their application status in September 2023. Award winners will be posted to the Live Oak and The Wingspan Project websites.

Award Winner Financial Reporting
Due to state and federal tax laws, the award winners will be issued a 1099 form from The Wingspan Project and all award payments should be reported per appropriate IRS regulations. In order to receive payment, the award winners will be required to provide an individual W9 form at the time of the award announcements.  Please note that even if you are applying on behalf of an organization, the awards are designed for individuals.

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