Check the links to the right for information on applying for a grant! ----> Next round of applications due December 2, 2024 at 5 PM! The Institute for Women's Studies has been awarded an Affirming Multivocal Humanities grant from the Mellon Foundation. This grant will be implemented over the next three years (through July 2026), during which we will pursue three interrelated initiatives revolving around the theme of Building Southern Intersectional Futures. Working from the standpoint that the South encapsulates many of the globally-inflected challenges facing our nation today, these initiatives draw on our existing programming and unit goals related to: Preparing students to recognize, celebrate, and contribute to multivocal communities locally and globally and Supporting intersectional futures in the South by reinforcing networks of learning and praxis among women’s and gender studies programs throughout the region. INITIATIVE 1: Building Intersectional Undergraduate Research This initiative supports critically engaged, student-led research projects that center issues of representation, equity, and community. Building on our required research course (WMST 4011), this initiative allows students to apply the skills learned to a longer-term research project. Projects must be critical and intersectional by design, bringing to light the multivocal character of Georgia and beyond. Students are encouraged to engage with community partners and to have public-facing research results. Click here for more information on this initiative. INITIATIVE 2: Building Resources for the Future This initiative draws on the network of colleges and universities we have established through the WAGG conference and other regional initiatives, as well as other institutes at UGA. In the current social and political environment, it is imperative that women’s and gender studies programs share resources and support. We are particularly invested in centering the voices and experiences of our colleagues at HBCUs, smaller state schools, and community colleges. In the context of UGA, this initiative also incorporates our ongoing vital collaborations with the Institutes of Native American Studies, African American Studies, and Latin American and Caribbean Studies. More information on this initiative coming soon. INITIATIVE 3: Building Multivocal Community Representation Initiative 3 offers support for experimental collaborations between IWS students engaged in the fine and performing arts and local organizations, to amplify the multivocal character of our community and draw attention to pressing concerns. Both Athens and UGA are home to a vibrant artistic and creative scene, and the arts are a powerful resource for community building. This initiative centers process, experimentation, and creativity, with no preconceived ideas about an end product. Click here for more information on this initiative.
