LIGHT Awards Cohort 13 – Convening 2026 – Indian Springs, Calistoga
In July 2026, the Intrepid Philanthropy Foundation hosted its thirteenth annual Convening for new recipients of LIGHT Awards grants. The purpose of the gathering was threefold: to honor and celebrate the educators, to cultivate connections within and across LIGHT teams, and to energize and inspire the teams as they embark on their project journeys. An enthusiastic group of 36 teachers representing 11 projects and 14 Bay Area schools attended this 2-day meeting at Indian Springs Resort in Calistoga, along with the Intrepid Philanthropy Foundation team and alumni panelists.
In the words of the 2026 Convening attendees:
The LIGHT Awards Convening gives not only a sense of purpose but also a sense of connection with those who are walking a similar path.
It is a joy to be supported and encouraged as a teacher. Fostering hope and inspiration for educators means we can foster hope and inspiration for our students.
Honoring Self and Team as Leaders and Learners
Using individualized project visioning posters created by Rosi Greenberg (drawntolead.org) as a touchstone, team members introduce their projects through song.
Team members from the Oakland School for the Arts
Informed by an energizing session on Core Values led by Intrepid Advisory Board member Jen Bloom, teams prepare for their two-year projects.
This was exactly what our team needed to go from that formal grant application to feeling energized and centered around values and dreams for our project. Not to mention, it also highlighted truths about each other like values and talents which I am confident will lead us to being a more effective and close knit team.
Once we all started sharing stories about our core values we immediately noticed how much we had in common: our commitment to our students and communities, lifelong learning, and a belief in our power as educators to make the world a little bit better. It was invigorating to feel like part of a community that was so aligned and is working towards so many positive outcomes.
Moderated by Intrepid Founder Karen Leshner (far right), LIGHT Award Alumni Ginny Geoghegan (Tomales HS), Jenn Kelly-Dewitt (Oakland International HS) and Courtney McGuire (Madison Park Academy, Oakland) share highlights from their LIGHT Award projects and answer Cohort 13 team members’ questions.
After an insightful session on Talent Mapping led by Advisory Board Member Jenny Maehara, teams work with thought partners to plan for the upcoming school year.
The convening is THE moment to build a communal understanding and vision for your team. In a school year that has so many competing interests, this uninterrupted time is like gold. So many seeds are planted at the convening that we would have been too rushed to dream up during the year.
Led by Advisory Board Member Paula Mitchell, teams play together, creating a kinetic sculpture that represents one of their talents.
In Community
