The Women’s Health Team at Fenway Health is happy to announce a call for proposals for the inaugural Judy Bradford Community Grant as well as a nominations for the Audre Lorde Trailblazer and Spirit of Fire Awards. On Saturday, October 20, the Women’s Health Team will host the 20th Annual Audre Lorde Cancer Awareness Brunch, a celebration of women of color and their supporters whose lives have been affected by cancer. Started in 1999, the brunch is named in memory of Audre Lorde, a self-described “black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet” who battled cancer for 14 years.
At the event, we honor Dr. Judy Bradford, a lifelong advocate for the LGBTQ+ community whose generous gift supports the brunch. As Co-Chair of The Fenway Institute from its inception in 2001, Judy was a pioneer and national leader in building a framework for LGBT-focused research and teaching whose contributions to the community will live on. We celebrate her legacy through the Judy Bradford Community Grant to address health disparities for women of color and/or LGBTQ individuals and support cancer advocacy. You can access the application materials, including the Request for Proposals, Printable Application, and Online Grantee Portal, on the Audre Lorde Cancer Awareness Brunch website to learn more about the grant.
In addition to the grant, we will also present awards to community members who embody Audre Lorde’s strength. The Trailblazer Award recognizes a “woman to watch” early on in her career whose contributions to women’s health show excellent leadership potential while the Spirit of Fire Award celebrates an accomplished woman who has served as an exceptional leader in cancer services, awareness, or advocacy. An organization with such a mission may also be considered.
Do you know a queer woman of color or organization in the Boston area that embodies Audre Lorde’s strength? Nominate her or the organization for the Audre Lorde Trailblazer or Spirit of Fire Award by filling out this online form by Friday August 31. Do you know an organization or individual looking for $2,500 in funding to address health disparities for women of color and/or LGBTQ folks? Share and/or complete the Judy Bradford Community Grant application by filling out this online form by Friday August 31. You can contact Tanekwah Hinds, the Women’s Health Program Coordinator, at [email protected], for more information.