The Colorado Water Congress (CWC) is excited to announce applications are open for the 2025 CWC Career Accelerator Award, a 1-year program intended to promote equity and diversity in the water sector. The award provides funding for awardee attendance at CWC’s two main annual events, as well as mentorship opportunities within the CWC community.
Awardee Commitments
Awardee must commit to the following upon acceptance of the award:
• Attend Summer and Winter Conferences.
• Attend one (or more) CWC Board Meetings (6 opportunities throughout the year).
• Attend one (or more) Board Membership Committee Meetings.
• Participate in the CWC EDI Committee.
• Contribute to a CWC program in one of the following ways: write a guest blog article, participate in a member call, workshop or conference.
• Other contributions will be considered.
Benefits of the Award
The program includes exposure to the CWC, the principal voice of Colorado's water community, as well as exposure to a wide variety of key water resource issues in Colorado (agricultural, industrial, municipal, etc.). Awardees will be given opportunities to share their perspective. Awardees will also receive access to an ongoing network of award recipients.
Specific benefits include:
• One-year complimentary membership to the CWC.
• Free attendance at the CWC Conferences (Winter/Summer):
o Financial Support for the following:
Travel
Registration
o Arranged coffee/meetings with CWC members
o Continuing education
• Committee Engagement (rotating attendance on the following committees):
o Water Quality
o State Affairs
o Federal Affairs
o Colorado Water Stewardship Project
• Year-long mentorship from a CWC member(s)
• Interaction with CWC Board
Award Criteria & Qualifications
• Individuals must live in Colorado.
• Historically underrepresented populations at CWC are encouraged to apply, including as examples, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI), Hispanic/Latino/Latinx, LGBTQ+ individuals, and persons with disabilities. This list is not exhaustive.
• Individuals with a demonstrated career interest in Colorado water.
• Individuals who may not otherwise attend CWC conferences/events or who may not consider CWC membership.
Travel