Dear Gaylesta Community,

We are happy to share some exciting news that reflects our ongoing commitment to care for, uplift, and support one another. The Gaylesta Board has created two new scholarship opportunities designed to make our community more accessible and to nurture the professional growth of our members.

1. BIPOC Membership Scholarship

We are offering 5  fully paid one-year Gaylesta memberships (licensed or pre-licensed level) for community members who identify as BIPOC and who are either joining Gaylesta for the first time or returning after time away. Our hope is that this scholarship helps reduce barriers and warmly brings more voices, perspectives, and experiences into our shared community.

Click here to apply for the BIPOC Membership Scholarship

2. Professional Development Scholarship – $500

We are offering 2 needs-based $500 scholarships that can be used toward attending a conference or professional training. This opportunity is open to anyone in our membership community. We recognize that continued learning can be both inspiring and financially challenging, and we hope this support helps open doors for those who need it.

Click here to apply for the Professional Development Scholarship

Both scholarships will begin in 2026, and applications are due by February 15.

We warmly invite current members to share these opportunities with colleagues who might benefit. One of our strengths as a community is how we look out for one another, and your help in spreading the word makes a meaningful difference.

If questions come up, please feel free to reach out directly to Gaylesta Board Member, Roger Kuhn, who is helping facilitate these initiatives. Roger is available, approachable, and happy to support anyone navigating the application process. roger@rogerjkuhn.com 

We also want to extend an additional invitation to recipients of the Professional Development Scholarship: if you feel inspired, the Board would love to welcome you to lead a training based on what you learned. This could be a CE event or a more informal community learning event—whatever feels most aligned and comfortable for you. Should you choose the CE route, Roger can help guide you through the extra steps involved.

Thank you for all the ways you contribute to making Gaylesta a place of connection, care, and shared growth. We’re grateful for this community and excited to see how these scholarships support and strengthen the work we do together.

Warmly and with appreciation,

The Gaylesta Board of Directors