$2500 grants for folks connecting NE OKC or South Central Oklahoma
Some people weave us together. They are the folks most people know and trust, those we count on to get neighbors together when we need to tackle a shared problem or get something done. They show up for others and connect us. They are weavers.
You probably are one of them or know a weaver. Let’s recognize and help them get $2500 and other resources to continue doing their important work.
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 part of a constellation of activities designed to celebrate and support weavers—everyday neighbors who are building relationships, strengthening belonging, and weaving trust into the social fabric of their communities. The $2500 awards for neighbors working together are easy to apply for, require only simple reporting, and can go to individuals or small organizations.
Why are we launching the Weaver Awards in Resilient Oklahoma?
We are starting with two communities, NE OKC and Wynnewood, and hoping to expand to more communities with future funding. We are ready to enhance connection, collaboration, and cross-neighborhood relationships.
What will you get if you become a Weaver Awardee?
Each Weaver Awardee will receive a financial award of $2500 to celebrate and recognize their contributions to their community. In addition, each awardee will receive:
- Local and National Recognition: Awardees will be recognized both locally and nationally by the Aspen Institute alongside weavers from across the country.
- Learning Resources and Tools: Awardees will access learning resources and additional opportunities
- 1:1 Support: Awardees will 1:1 support to implement their community-based activities
- Networks and Connections: Awardees will access a network of other local weavers and participate in regular meetings 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 Northeast OKC (73111, 73117, and 73105), or Wynnewood (73098), or South Central Oklahoma
- 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?
Weaving 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
We are looking for people and organizations with projects or initiatives that reflect these qualities. We are looking for folks that get neighbors together to tackle a shared issue in their community. The project must also welcome anyone who wants to join it and foster relationships between participants.
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:
Funds may not be used for:
- 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
You can see a sample budget, as an example, here.
About Resilient Oklahoma
Resilient Oklahoma is a workgroup of public and private partners that aim to support families and communities in Oklahoma by promoting resilience, hope and collaboration. Our goal is to provide a platform where people can braid resources, share their work, connect organizations, communities, and service providers, and work together toward healing and supporting our state. Together, we’re building a more resilient, hopeful, and compassionate Oklahoma!
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.