$2,500 - $5,000 awards for folks connecting Wichita.
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 $2,500 -$5,000 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 $2,500-$5,000 awards for neighbors working together are easy to apply for, require only simple reporting, and can be awarded to individuals or small organizations.
Why are we launching the Weaver Awards in Wichita?
These awards align with our long-standing commitment to building connected, thriving communities. We see every day how many of you are already centering your neighborhood work around relationships, trust, and belonging. We want to shine a light on the people who often go unrecognized but make our city stronger.
The Weaver Awards allow us to do just that — uplift local weavers, tell their stories, and directly invest in the neighborhood building already happening in Wichita.
What will you get if you become a Weaver Awardee?
Each Weaver Awardee will receive a financial award of $2,500-$5,000 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:
- How-to guides and training to support weaving
- Online learning resources
- 1:1 Support: Individualized support to implement their community-based activities
- Cohort Network and Connections:
- Awardee celebration
- Regular cadence of cohort meetings and networking opportunities
- Cohort WhatsApp group
- Private group on Weaving Us
Who selects the Weaver Awardees?
Awardees are selected by a local advisory group of community leaders who represent our City’s diversity and share a deep belief that social connection can have a significant impact. 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 Wichita, KS
- 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.
- The project does not support a political party or policy.
Weaver Awards can go toward projects that serve specific affinity groups (e.g., Veterans, language groups, women’s groups, student groups, etc.) as long as participation is not restricted based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation or identity, political party, or faith.
What makes a good nomination 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.
For examples of past weavers, please see this link.
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 individuals (i.e. wheelchairs)
- Tuition or certification fees
- One time events
You can see a sample budget here.
About The Neighboring Movement
The Neighboring Movement believes that every neighbor has something powerful to offer. We create spaces and programs that help neighbors discover their strengths, build meaningful relationships, and take action together to create powerful change right where they live. Through our training series, we find and celebrate the everyday people who are already weaving the social fabric, and we give more neighbors the tools to join them. Learn more at neighboringmovement.org.
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
What are the Weaver Awards?
The Weaver Awards recognize 20 people in Wichita who are leading efforts in their community to address local needs with $2,500-$5,000 awards.
Who can get a Weaver Award?
The awards are for individuals and small groups doing a project that brings people together, fosters relationships with one another, and addresses a shared need in the community. The Awards are not intended for large organizations, though people who work for an organization can apply as long as their organization has an annual budget under $250,000. To get an award, you have to live and work in Wichita and be 18 or older. You don’t have to be part of a nonprofit organization.
To receive an award from The Neighboring Movement, applicants must also demonstrate how their work creates positive change in a specific neighborhood.
How do I nominate someone for a Weaver Award?
Nominating someone is very simple. You only need to answer three questions that can be completed in as little as 15 minutes. You can access the nomination form on this page, starting on June 1, 2026. To nominate someone, you must be 18 and older and live, work, or learn in Wichita.
Once you submit the nomination, the person you are recommending will be notified via email and will need to provide additional information to complete their application. Please let them know that you’ve nominated them for a Weaver Award, so they are expecting an email from us.
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.
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 do you apply and what's the deadline?
Completed applications with nominations have to be submitted by August 31, 2026, through the Wichita Weaver Awards application website. You can apply or recommend someone through the links on this page.
I’m having trouble completing the application or recommendation form, what should I do?
Send an email to comms@neighboringmovement.org, and we’ll respond as soon as possible.
What happens after I submit my application?
A group of Wichita local advisors will review and select the Weaver Awardees. In the meantime, keep in touch with us by subscribing to our newsletter at neighboringmovement.org to stay connected or join us for an upcoming event to meet weavers like you from across our community.
How do I tell others in my community about the Awards?
Spread the word by sharing the Awards home page at awards.weavers.org/en/Wichita/2026 to folks you know and through your social accounts.
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.
Have additional questions?
Contact us at comms@neighboringmovement.org and we’ll be happy to answer them!