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| Dear SZBA Members,The SZBA Board of Directors and the DEIA Committee are pleased to announce the establishment and first round of scholarship opportunities available to BIPOC members and practitioners. The description of the fund is as follows: The Soto Zen Buddhist Association recognizes that there are inequities in access to Zen practice due to systemic racism. To make reparations for these inequities, the SZBA has formed a scholarship fund to begin to redistribute economic resources to BIPOC Soto Zen practitioners. BIPOC SZBA members, and BIPOC students of SZBA members will be invited annually to apply for funds in the first quarter of each year. To accommodate needs that may arise throughout the year, applications will be accepted and reviewed as needed. Applicants are welcome to apply for funds to support their Zen practice including events, classes, conferences, retreats, and travel costs. If you are a BIPOC member of the SZBA, you may apply for funding beginning today and ending March 31, 2022. We ask that you share this message with your students and sangha members as well. This year, we have $4,000 available to BIPOC members and encourage you to apply for grants that do not exceed $350 so that we are able support as many BIPOC members and their BIPOC students as possible. Understanding that needs and opportunities may arise throughout the year, we are reserving some of this money for applications received later in the year. To apply, please send your application to info@szba.org by March 31, 2022. With palms pressed, The SZBA Board of Directors and the SZBA DEIA Committee |
| BIPOC Scholarship Application |
The All Beings Zen Sangha welcomes and affirms all who come here to seek the Way, and who will work toward respectful acceptance of others across our many differences, harmonizing the one and the many. May all beings be happy!