The Community Geographies Collaborative (CGC) solicits nominations (including self-nominations) for the 2026 Spirit Award. The Spirit Award is given annually to a graduate student CGC member or group of members who have made exemplary contributions to advance research projects rooted in the spirit of Community Geography. The recipient/s will receive a certificate and a $150 cash prize. You can read more about previous recipients of the Spirit Award on our website.  

Community geography approaches focus on “developing models for research and teaching that actively extend beyond the academy” (Shannon, et al. 2020: 1), fostering spaces where co-produced knowledge can be created and shared. The Spirit Award highlights projects that support community-engaged geographic research that are based on collaborative partnerships, mutual support, engaging in social action, and advocating for alternative modes of scholarship that value often marginalized community voices and prioritize community benefits.

Application Procedures
Applications may be submitted by a CGC graduate student member or group of members that work on the same project. All awardees must be current CGC members at the time of the application.                      Submit your application by March 6th, 2026 here: https://forms.gle/rMwebGqb844GTaEz9