Weaving a Stronger Cleveland Together !

The 2026 Weaver Awards celebrate the everyday neighbor building connection and belonging across Cleveland and East Cleveland.

In partnership with the Aspen Institute’s Weave: The Social Fabric Project, Neighborhood Connections will honor 20 individuals and groups who are strengthening the social fabric of their communities through care, collaboration, and community leadership.

Award recipients will receive up to $3,000 to support their continued impact.

If you know someone creating spaces where people feel seen, supported, and connected—or if that sounds like you—we invite you to apply or nominate a weaver today!

What is weaving?

Weaving is the practice of building meaningful relationships that set the conditions for social trust to grow in communities.

It begins with a simple commitment: to see one another as equal in dignity, even when experiences and viewpoints differ.

Weaving invites people to:

Discover what they have in common
Learn how their differences can make the community stronger
Work side by side toward common good.

Weaving can be formal or informal, and it is characterized by four qualities:

Local: It brings together people who share the same neighborhood, town, or region
Mutual: It celebrates everyone’s contributions and creates opportunities for everyone to both give and receive
Welcoming: It invites people to join as they are
Continuous: It builds relationships that deepen over time through ongoing engagement

What are the Weaver Awards?

The Weaver Awards are rooted in Neighborhood Connections’ mission to meet residents where they are. The awards honor everyday neighbors who are building authentic relationships, fostering belonging, and weaving trust into the social fabric of Cleveland and East Cleveland communities.

Why are we launching the Weaver Awards in Neighbor Up Cleveland?

Cleveland and East Cleveland are filled with residents already doing the work of bringing people together, often without recognition or funding. We want to change that by putting resources directly into the hands of the people already making a meaningful impact in their communities.

The Weaver Awards align with our vision of a united and healed Cleveland powered by engaged residents who cultivate civic action in their neighborhoods every day.

We want to celebrate leadership that may not always be visible in traditional systems—neighbors who check in on others, bridge divides, create welcoming spaces, and inspire collective action through care and consistency.

What will you get if you become a Weaver Awardee?

In addition to the monetary reward, each awardee will receive:

Local and National Recognition: Awardees will be recognized locally and nationally by the Aspen Institute alongside fellow weavers from across the country. Awardees of the 2026 Weaver Awards will also be featured across Neighborhood Connections’ communication channels, including our website, Instagram, and email newsletter.

Communications and Marketing Support: Professional headshots and group photos. Group and individual stories pitched to local Cleveland radio, television, and print media (while media placement is not guaranteed)

Networks and Connections: Awardees will gain access to a network of local weavers and participate in regular meetings, learning opportunities, and networking events.

Who selects the Weaver Awardees?

A local advisory group, made up mainly of local community advocates, will choose the Awardees. These are people who know the spirit of the community and its neighborhoods. They care about weaving a strong social fabric and they know what it takes to do so.

Who is eligible?

For someone to be considered for an Award they need to:

Be 18 or older
Live and serve in Cleveland and East Cleveland
Have a project that helps connect neighbors and fosters relationships between them
The project is open to anyone in the community
The project addresses a shared need in the community
If the project is part of an organization, the organization must have an annual budget below $250,000
Have a community recommendation from a community member who lives in the area you serve.

What makes a good candidate for a Weaver Award?

Community-Rooted

Weavers are deeply connected to the people and places around them. They care for their neighborhoods, invest in local relationships, and create spaces where residents feel valued.

Consistent

Weaving is ongoing work. Weavers show up over time, nurturing connections through repeated acts of care, engagement, and community-building.

Committed

Weavers turn relationships into collective action. By inspiring neighbors to work together to build a more hopeful future for Cleveland and East Cleveland.

How can I use the funds?

We believe that weavers know best how to use the funds to connect their communities.

However, we do have a few restrictions:

Regranting funds
Large sums for items that are not for community use (i.e. building supplies for private use)
Purchasing items that would be donated to individual people (i.e. wheelchairs)
Tuition or certification fees

About Neighborhood Connections

Neighborhood Connections is an innovative, nationally recognized community-building program established in 2003 by the Cleveland Foundation to support resident-led change. It is implemented by E. 66th Street Services, Inc., a 501(c)3 non-proﬁt organization, and funded by many partners.

Their work begins with residents, and works closely with institutional players to share power and make lasting change in communities across Cleveland, Ohio.

About Weave: The Social Fabric Project

Weave: The Social Fabric Project is an initiative of the Aspen Institute dedicated to strengthening trust, connection, and belonging in communities across the United States. Weave supports everyday weavers—neighbors who show up for others, bridge divides, and build community. Through storytelling, online learning, community-building programs, and the Weaver Awards, Weave works to repair America’s social fabric from the ground up and lift up the people who are already leading this work in their neighborhoods. Learn more at weavers.org.

FAQ

Do you have to be attached to a nonprofit to get an Award?

No.

Anyone can get the Award. You don’t have to have a formal organization. Weaver Awards are meant for those who don’t have the time, experience, or resources to apply for traditional awards.

How long does it take to complete the application process?

The application has two parts, the nomination by a neighbor and the application by the aspiring Awardee. Each part can be completed in as little as 30 minutes and you can even submit video recordings instead of a written application.

If I'm submitting a video application, can I submit only one video?

No, you need to submit a video for each question that requires a video response. It’s the best way to make sure that the judges properly evaluate your answers. Please make sure you respect the guidelines of time limits. We only allow a maximum of 2 minutes per video response.

What happens after I submit my application?

A group of Neighborhood Connections community advisors will review and select the Weaver Awardees. In the meantime, keep in touch with us at info@neighborhoodgrants.org to stay connected or join our monthly newsletter by following @NeighborUpCle on Instagram and clicking the link in our bio!

I’m having trouble completing the application or recommendation form, what should I do?

Send an email to info@neighborhoodgrants.org or give us a call at (216) 361-0042 and we’ll respond as soon as possible.

How do you apply and what's the deadline?

Completed applications with nominations have to be submitted by July 15th, 2026 through the Neighborhood Connections Weaver Awards application website. You can apply or recommend someone through the links in this page.

Have additional questions?

Weaver Awards

Neighbor Up Cleveland 2026