The January Marie Lapuz Youth Leadership Award is an annual award bestowed upon a deserving youth who is 16 to 30 years of age and who has demonstrated involvement, commitment and leadership in the 2SLGBTQ+ community whether locally, nationally and/or internationally. 2SLGBTQ+ stands for two spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer. The January Marie Lapuz Youth Leadership Award has been given every year since 2015. Any youth anywhere who are 16 to 30 are eligible. You do not have to be 2SLGBTQ+ or South Asian. Sher Vancouver welcomes all youth doing amazing things in the 2SLGBTQ+ community. Emerging Youth Leaders Due to the high number of strong applicants there is an unfair advantage for applicants who are in their mid-twenties to 30 because they have more life experience to put on their applications. The younger applicants who are 16 to 23 essentially cannot compete. As a result Sher Vancouver will be donating $800 for four Emerging Youth Leaders prizes this year. Sher Vancouver will be giving four cash prizes of $200 each to Emerging Youth Leaders. They will also receive a letter of congratulations and a framed certificate. Please note any applicant including younger applicants will be considered for the Top 4 prizes as well. Application Deadline
Applications are accepted throughout the year from January 1st to December 31st. Winners are announced early in the following year. All application materials are to be submitted in English. Winners will need to provide a short follow-up report within a year describing how the funds were spent. Prize money is to continue your volunteer work and community service within the 2SLGBTQ+ community. The overall winner from previous years are ineligible to re-apply, however, runner ups can apply again. |
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Who Was January?
January Marie Lapuz was born on April 9, 1986, in Santiago City, Philippines and passed away on September 30, 2012, in New Westminster, B.C.
January was the Social Coordinator of Sher Vancouver, and was the first transgender person to hold an executive position within the organization. She welcomed new members, connected them to information and support services, and helped organize and plan social activities and events. A singer and dancer, she also performed at Sher events. She was a kind, caring, generous and loyal friend, who helped other transgender women with their gender transition. |
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January had many challenges and struggles as an immigrant, as a person of colour and as a transgender woman living in poverty. Nonetheless, she was a bright light and shining star in Sher Vancouver.
She had a special ability to get people to put their differences aside and move forward in the best interests of each other and the organization.
Not a day goes by that January’s friends don’t miss her.
She had a special ability to get people to put their differences aside and move forward in the best interests of each other and the organization.
Not a day goes by that January’s friends don’t miss her.