upcoming grant deadline: 05/15/2024

upcoming grant deadline: 05/15/2024

Valerie Harris

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(1) by Boone Nguyen (2) by Barbara Kigozi

2008 Leeway Transformation Award – $15,000

Valerie is a writer, teacher, publisher, and film producer. She is committed to telling the stories of her communities of origin: West Philadelphia and Darby Township. The nature of Valerie's art and social change work is collaborative, representing the sharing of a variety of voices, experiences and perspectives. Her work as a community-focused teaching artist affects communities in many ways by facilitating self-expression, healing and inspiring on a personal level, which leads to collective empowerment. Valerie began writing plays in the 1970s, and saw her works performed nationally. Over the years, she has worked on a number of writing and publishing projects related to art, women, and the African-American community. Valerie's work assists communities in appreciating the cultural landscape—histories, traditions, struggles and creative expressions—and seeing themselves as active participants in it. For example, she led students in her Teen Writers Academy to publish an anthology, which she distributed to local public libraries. She also teaches writing workshops at the Paul Robeson House for seniors, working people, immigrants and caregivers. Currently, Valerie is working on the Darby Township Community History Project, which began as a writing workshop with African American seniors and has since evolved into an oral history project and community history film project. She plans to hold public screenings of the film and publish an accompanying book.

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Leeway grant?

Window of Opportunity Grant

The Window of Opportunity (WOO) grant provides financial assistance of up to $1,500 to Leeway grant and award recipients to help them take advantage of imminent, time-sensitive opportunities to support their art for social change practice. The Community Care Fund (CCF) provides financial assistance of up to $1,250 to Leeway grant and award recipients to support with immediate and essential emergency needs. [read more]

deadline
Upcoming events
04/025:30 pm - 7:00 pm

4/2 Transformation Award (LTA) Awardee Panel + Info Session (In Person)

Have questions about the application process for the Leeway Transformation Award (LTA)?

[learn more]

04/185:30 pm - 6:30 pm

4/18 Transformation Award (LTA) Info Session (Virtual)

Have questions about the application process for the Leeway Transformation Award?

[learn more]