Theressa Hoover Community Service and Global Citizenship Award

Calling young women who want to travel and study!

United Women in Faith is accepting applications for the Theressa Hoover Community Service and Global Citizenship Award. The grant is awarded to a lay woman (between the ages of 21–35) who wishes to travel in order to explore and study in a country or region other than the applicant’s own.

Priority will be given to projects that explore one of United Women in Faith’s social justice priorities:

• Climate Justice: Advance just energy for all through advocacy or concrete projects that promote clean, just, renewable energy, energy democracy, and a just and equitable energy transition.
• Racial Justice: Ending mass incarceration, stopping the criminalization of communities of color, and/or interrupting the school-to-prison pipeline.

In addition, applicants should demonstrate concern for, and a connection to, their community, as well as a recognition of their global responsibilities.

Application Criteria

• The proposed project must happen in a country or region other than the applicant’s own.
• The award will be given to a young woman who has:
  • demonstrated concern for her neighbors and community;
  • shown that concern in service to the community; and
  • exhibited an awareness of the total nature of our responsibilities in the world today and in the future.
• Emphasis of the award is on travel and informal learning rather than a period of formal study through scholarship aid, recognizing Ms. Hoover’s strong belief in that form of learning for women and for laity in particular.
• The award is to be ecumenical in nature, honoring Ms. Hoover’s unique ability to combine commitment to her race, religion, and region with a lively interest in all other races, religions, and regions.
• Applicant must be a lay woman between the ages of 21-35 of any race or nationality.
• Funds must be used for travel to another country or region other than one’s own.
• This is a one-time grant award.
• The maximum amount per award is $10,000.
• Awardee will be required to provide a written report. She may also be asked to give a presentation about her trip and project at an annual United Methodist Women Board or Program Advisory Group meeting.
• Preference will be given to applications that outline a strong evaluation/reporting plan for the proposed project.
• Preference will be given to projects that directly connect to one of the issue priorities of United Women in Faith.
• Not all applications will be funded.
• Applications that request scholarship funding or nonprofit support will not be considered.

Applications are due by Tuesday, July 9, 2024.

To learn more and obtain the application, please contact the United Women in Faith’s grants office at grants@uwfaith.org noting in the email subject line: Theressa Hoover Application Request. In the body of the email, please include the following: applicant’s name, email address, and any other details you feel necessary.

Theressa Hoover

Originally from Arkansas, Theressa Hoover joined the Woman’s Division of Christian Service as a field worker in 1948. In 1968 she was elected chief executive of the Women’s Division of the General Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church. She was the first African-American woman to hold that position or any comparable post in the denomination. She served as head of the division for 22 years and retired in 1990. Ms. Hoover died at 88 on December 21, 2013, in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Theressa Hoover leaves behind a legacy. In 2004, Ebony magazine named her one of the 100 most influential African-American women, and the Theressa Hoover United Methodist Church in Little Rock, Arkansas, was named for her. In 1990, United Women in Faith created the Theressa Hoover Community Service and Global Citizenship Award. We are grateful to be able to continue Ms. Hoover’s passionate work for women and children by passing on the torch of global citizenship with this award.