American Public Square is honored to announce that we have 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.

The Weaver Awards are part of a constellation of activities designed to celebrate and support weavers—everyday neighbors who are building relationships, strengthening belonging, and weaving trust into the social fabric of their communities. As a Community Host, we will build a culture of weaving in Kansas City by: 

• Identifying local weavers and sharing their stories with our community
• Launching a local Weaver Awards program, distributing 20+ microgrants each year for four years to individuals and small nonprofits
• Convening gatherings that bring people together and help them learn the skills of weaving
• Joining a national network of local leaders rebuilding trust in communities across the U.S.

“This opportunity fits who we are,” said Claire Bishop, CEO of American Public Square. “APS has spent more than a decade helping people stay in the room with each other — even when it’s hard. Now we get to shine a light on the quiet leaders across Kansas City who are already doing this work every day. Our role is to support them, celebrate them, and strengthen the culture of belonging they’ve been building all along.”

“While loneliness, isolation, and division seem to define our national story, these 25 Community Hosts show us another truth — that trust grows when neighbors show up for one another, build relationships, and work together,’ said Frederick J. Riley, Executive Director of Weave: The Social Fabric Project at the Aspen Institute. “Each organization is already deeply woven into the life of its community, and by going even deeper, they’re proving that a culture of belonging isn’t just possible — it’s already taking hold, block by block.”

Each Community Host receives $225,000 in startup funding, along with training, tools, technical assistance, and ongoing support from Weave. This partnership represents a four-year commitment to our community, signaling Weave’s belief in the strength, creativity, and leadership already alive here. The first cycle of Weaver Awards launches in fall 2026.

Why This Matters for Our Community

• APS’s mission has always centered on building informed, civil, and connected communities.

• Kansas City is home to countless weavers whose contributions often go unseen and unfunded.

• The program will allow APS to support neighborhood-level leadership, elevate stories of bridge-builders, and seed new grassroots efforts across the metro.

• Over four years, the Weaver Awards will help cultivate a citywide culture of belonging, creating long-term civic infrastructure that endures beyond any single event or program.

We’ll share more information in the months ahead, including details on how local residents can apply or nominate someone for a Weaver Award.

About Weave

Weave: The Social Fabric Project is an initiative of the Aspen Institute dedicated to strengthening trust, connection, and belonging in communities across the United States. Weave supports everyday weavers — neighbors who show up for others, bridge divides, and build community. Through storytelling, online learning, community-building programs, and the Weaver Awards, Weave works to repair America’s social fabric from the ground up and lift up the people who are already leading this work in their neighborhoods. Learn more at weavers.org. 

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