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Tzedek Social Justice Fund is currently accepting nominations for the Tzedek Brilliance Awards. The Brilliance Awards are a one-time, no-strings-attached grant of $50,000 given to leaders who have consistently shown up to dismantle systemic oppression in the Asheville, North Carolina region.
The Tzedek Brilliance Awards honor Asheville’s leaders who are engaged in impactful, intersectional efforts to further racial justice, LGBTQ equality, and/or to combat antisemitism. As opposed to the majority of Tzedek’s grantmaking that funds organizational work, Brilliance Awards are designed to cultivate the well-being of individual brilliant community leaders by investing in their spaciousness, autonomy, and wisdom. Past awardees are local community organizers, activists, and culture-builders, including Nicole Townsend, Marta Alcalá-Williams, Philip Cooper, Sheneika Smith, Rasheeda Hall, and Renée White.
I love the People. Always power to the People. And when I say, ‘Power to the People’ – not just Black people, not just Brown people, but all People of the Struggle. I’m going to fight for the underdog until I am in the grave!
Philip Cooper
Past Awardees
Click images below to learn more.
Interested individuals are invited to nominate themselves or other leaders in the community on Tzedek’s website. Nominations are due June 9th. All nominees must be a full-time resident of the Asheville area (living within 30 miles of The Asheville City Building) for at least 5 years and must not hold an elected office or advanced government position. We especially encourage nominations from people of color, LGBTQ individuals, and Jewish individuals.
For more information on the application process and applicant criteria, visit Tzedek’s website.
