One way that SFPIRG aims to fulfill our mandate is by making funds available to be granted to individuals or organizations engaged in local, grassroots social and environmental justice work. Every year, $500 is set aside for the annual Usamah Ansari Creative Justice Award.
Types of Grants
Usamah Ansari Creative Justice Award {$500}
In memory of SFPIRG volunteer Usamah Ansari, this annual award supports creative social justice work including art, poetry, music and writing. Individuals or groups can apply. Priority is given to communities of colour, refugees and youth. The 2023 application deadline is Thursday, April 6 at 4pm. Make sure to apply early!
“Usamah was involved with SFPIRG for about 2 years while doing his undergrad at SFU. He worked on Antithesis – an alternative magazine published by SFPIRG…Usamah was intimidatingly bright. I certainly couldn’t keep up with him. And he was very funny, which helped when working into the wee hours of the night. We miss him very much. We at SFPIRG wanted to somehow commemorate his passion for social justice and the arts – the passion he brought to his work at SFPIRG and beyond – and have a legacy that could carry his spark forward. We created the Usamah Ansari award so that he will continue to inspire and support communities and art and so that years down the road, his memory will still be honoured.” (Krisztina Kun, Former SFPIRG Staff Member)
Applicants are encouraged to read some of Usamah’s work, to help understand some of his spirit, and the nature of his work.
Barbaric Brown Men and Civilized White Ladies
Forms
Here is the 2023 Usamah Ansari Creative Justice Application Form. Please fill out this form as a Word Document, using as much space as necessary to answer each question, and submit by email as a Word Document to engagement@sfpirg.ca before 4pm on April 6th.