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Mile High Weaver Awards

Denver INC, along with the University of Denver, has been selected as one of 25 Community Host organizations for the 2026 Weaver Awards, a national initiative of Weave: The Social Fabric Project at the Aspen Institute.​
 

weavers.org

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UPCOMING EVENT -

Join us for one of two upcoming citywide online information sessions to learn more about the Denver Civic COLab and the Weaver Awards microgrant program launching this summer.

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Info Session #1
When: Tuesday, June 2nd
Time: 6:00 PM
Where: Register Online on Zoom

 

Info Session #2
When: Tuesday June 30th
Time: 6:00 PM
Where: Register Online on Zoom
 

Both sessions will provide an overview of the program, share opportunities to get involved, and offer time for questions and discussion with community members from across the city. The sessions are open to community members, neighborhood organizations, nonprofits, civic leaders, and anyone interested in strengthening connection and collaboration across Denver.

What is Weave

The Aspen Institute’s Weave: The Social Fabric Project,  is a national initiative dedicated to strengthening trust, connection, and belonging in communities across the United States. The project was founded by journalist and author David Brooks in 2018, who together with Executive Director Fredrick J. Riley, guided the project through a pilot phase, and is now launching a nationwide program.

THE CHALLENGE

Most Americans want more connection — yet trust in one another has declined sharply. This isolation fuels loneliness, division, and gridlock. Weave: The Social Fabric Project  addresses this challenge by  investing in local leaders who are rebuilding that trust, one relationship at a time.

What is Weaving?

Weaving is the practice of building meaningful relationships that create the conditions for social trust to grow. It starts with a simple commitment: to see every person as equal in dignity, even when experiences and viewpoints differ.

 

Weaving is characterized by four qualities:

  • Local — brings together people who share the same neighborhood or region

  • Mutual — everyone both gives and receives

  • Welcoming — people join as they are

  • Continuous — relationships deepen over time through ongoing engagement

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Videos to learn more about Weaving:

Who are Weavers?

Weavers are everyday neighbors — not executives or elected officials — who show up consistently for others and create spaces where people feel they belong. They are often deeply known and trusted in their neighborhoods.

 

A weaver is someone who:

  • Recognizes the dignity in every person

  • Strengthens relationships across differences

  • Focuses on shared needs and local strengths

  • Makes and keeps commitments to others

  • Invests time in meaningful, ongoing connection

About Mile High Weaver Awards

Mile High Weaver Awards is one of 25 Community Hosts selected nationwide in 2026 to lead the Weaver Awards program. As a Community Host, we are part of a four-year effort — backed by the Aspen Institute — to elevate the weaving ethic right here in Denver.

 

What we do as a Community Host:

  • Identify and uplift local weavers doing relationship-centered work in Denver

  • Distribute $2,500 microgrants each year to individuals and small nonprofits

  • Share stories of local weavers to inspire others across the city and the country

  • Host gatherings that bring Denverites together across differences

  • Connect with a national peer cohort of Community Hosts across the U.S.

Grant Eligibility: Who Should Apply?

We are looking for Denver-area weavers doing the quiet, consistent work of building trust and belonging. Grants of $2,500 are available to individuals and community based organizations.

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You may be a strong candidate if you:

  • Are an individual or represent a small organization rooted in the Denver community

  • Do work centered on building relationships — not just delivering services

  • Bring together people across differences (neighborhood, background, tradition, or experience)

  • Have ongoing, sustained engagement with your community (not one-time events)

  • Are often unrecognized but deeply trusted by those around you

 

Examples of eligible weavers:

  • A block captain who hosts monthly neighbor dinners and checks in on isolated residents

  • A faith leader organizing interfaith dialogues and community service projects

  • A small nonprofit running shared cultural programs that bridge immigrant and long-term residents

  • A mentor who creates ongoing spaces for youth to connect across Denver neighborhoods

Want to Apply for the Weaver Award or Nominate Someone?

  • First Cycle of Weaver Applications Will Launch June 19, 2026

  • Check back for your opportunity to submit a weaver in your community

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