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Strive to Thrive
June 24, 2026
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Input
If you are SILENCED....
If you are STRUGGLING...
If you are SURVIVING...
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MILLIE HIATT
Spoken Word Society
Mount Airy, NC
Tell us about yourself.
I am a poet, author, professional storyteller and educator who has called Mount Airy, North Carolina, home for over 30 years. Before that growing up in rural West Virginia, I developed a profound appreciation for the power of words through the influence of my grandparents.
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I thrive when I...
I am creating safe spaces for people to tell their stories, laugh a little, and leave feeling more connected to themselves and each other. I thrive when poetry, Appalachian storytelling, music, and community come together in any space that is at a festival, bookstore, workshop, or small-town gathering. The best moments are when strangers become collaborators, audiences turn into participants, and people realize their voice has the power to move people. So Speak Up!
Where can we find your work?
Facebook: @spokenwordsociety
| | WANT TO BE FEATURED IN OUR NEWSLETTER LIKE THIS ARTIST? | | We are spotlighting artists and arts organizations making meaningful work happen. If you would like to share your story, your impact, or what you are building next, we would love to feature you. | |
MONTHLY ZOOM MEET-UP
3rd Tuesday of each month 3:00-4:00pm ET
A mix of professional development and sharing/networking
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next meet-up: July 21st 3:00-4:00pm ET
Topic: The Glue Nobody Talks About: Building Trust, Transparency, and Why it All Matters
This session will offer practical ways to strengthen credibility, communication, and connection with your patrons/donors. Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of how transparency, consistency, and authentic engagement help build confidence in both the artist and nonprofit mission and the people leading it. Whether you’re making the art, managing the organization, or serving on the board, this presentation will show why trust is not a soft extra—it’s the framework that helps everything else hold together.
| Guest Presenter: Brian Williams | |
Brian is a nonprofit consultant and coach who supports small arts and LGBTQ+ organizations in growing fundraising, engaging boards, and cultivating a culture of philanthropy through ongoing coaching and interactive group workshops. Through Dandelion Consulting, he brings heart, strategy, and real-world experience to create learning spaces where mission-driven teams and leaders can practice, experiment, and build sustainable habits together.
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Read: Investing in the arts pays off in southwest Minnesota
What happens when artists, community members, and local leaders come together to reimagine what's possible? This article explores a growing movement of creative spaces that are transforming communities, building connections, and creating new opportunities in unexpected places. Through stories of collaboration, vision, and persistence, it offers a glimpse into how the arts can shape local identity, strengthen communities, and inspire people to invest in where they live. It's an uplifting look at the power of creativity and the people working to make it a lasting part of community life.
Read More
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A few featured grants, residencies, creative job postings, and more. | | | Opportunity | Eligibility | Deadline | Amount | | NEH - Media Projects | Film/TV/Video; Online Video; Podcast; Radio Broadcast | 6/25/26 | Up to $775,000 | | Living Traditions: Folk Art and Beyond Grant | Apprenticeships, consultations, field works, cultural events, and convenings that bring traditional artists, cultural specialists, and communities together | 6/30/26 | up to $1000 | | Illuminations Grant for Black Trans Women Visual Artists | Self-identified Black trans women and trans femmes working in visual art and based in the United States | 7/2/26 | $10,000 | | Rauschenberg Medical Emergency Grants | Recent unexpected medical, dental, and mental health emergencies to artists in financial need who are creating work in the visual arts, digital/electronic arts, video/film, and choreography. | 7/14/26 | $5,000 | | Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation | 18-41 years old, student or emerging artist in the process of launching your career, painting, sculpture, printmaking, or drawing | 8/28/26 | $17,000 | | Illinois Art Council - Creative Project Grants | Illinois artists, nonprofits, municipal entities, or colleges and universities can apply for professional development or art projects | Rolling | Up to $12,000 | | IDA Emergency Assistance | Emergency funding for documentary filmmakers | Rolling | $500 - $5,000 | | Indy Arts Council and Indianapolis Airport Authority Seek Proposals for Airport Exhibitions and Video | Must be located in central Indiana (Marion and adjacent counties, plus other counties and towns served by Indianapolis International Airport) | Rolling | $500 | | Access: An Accommodations Programs | Creative West region (Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, or Wyoming), accessibility, ASL | Rolling
Final Deadline: 6/30/26 | Up to $500 | | | |
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